Granny Panty Chic

Fresh Recylcing for Christmas

2011-12-06T07:55:00.000-08:00

Isn't is true that old saying? Everything old is new again. We have only to look at fashion trends to know it's so.

For Christmas, it is truer than one might think. Oh, I know from reading that 44% of children under the age of 10 have a iPad 2 at the top of their Christmas list, but did you also notice this past summer than when Toy Story 3 came out, the new reduxes of old toys flew off the shelves? Who can resist a slinky dog or a Mr. Potato Head? I have Mr. Potato Heads for different seasons.

Think about giving some of these 'old' things new life for gifts & stocking stuffers:

~I don't care how old you are, a new coloring book and a box of 64 crayons (with the sharpener in the back) instantly brings out the kid in all of us.

~Mood rings. Admit it, you see these in stores by the cash register and still check your 'mood'.

~Jacks. The real metal ones. Get down on the floor and see how you can still do 'sixies'.

~Sea Monkeys. Remember when you really believed you could train them to do tricks?

~Razzles. The candy that turns into a gum. The candy part tastes great. I can only last about a minute once it turns to gum, but getting there is the real fun. These have made a real resurgence in the past several years. I think you can get a big container of them at Sams Club, but they are also at Wegmans or places like Cracker Barrel.

~A Lifesavers Story Book. Admittedly, these are nowhere as cool as they used to be when I was a kid and you got 10 assorted packs of Lifesavers, but they still provide a cheap thrill to a stocking.

~Love's Baby Soft. Yes, it still exists. I even saw it at Urban Outfitters. It doesn't smell like funky socks either, so for a retro flashback gift for a girlfriend, this would be serious fun.

Support your local thrift stores. Found recently in thrift or secondhand shops are these nifty things that might make great gifts if I didn't hoard them for myself:

~Cashmere sweaters. That's right, the real deal. They may be missing a button, but I can do that if the sweater is less than $10.

~Vintage milk glass coffee mugs with retro advertising or logos on them. My faves: McDs and Christmas themed ones. Pair this with some great coffee, biscotti and/or chocolate (isn't any gift improved with chocolate?) for a very cool gift.

~Cute little handbags. For grown-up girls, tuck in a vintage hankie, pocket mirror and a great lipgloss or lipbalm (may I suggest Rosebud which is produced a couple of miles up the road from me? It's also Sephora's biggest seller:Rosebud Perfume Co. at Sephora) Even better, for a little girl, you can get candy jewelry, lipstick, etc at the dollar store. Tuck that in with a coin purse full of quarters for an AWESOME gift.

~Some of the best record albums ever made for less than $1. Baby, nowadays some of the covers qualify as bonafide art. If the record is good, you can still play it. If it's scratched, Google directions for making cool bowls with them or use the records as placemats for a fun party.

~Seriously great old books. Sometimes you'll stumble upon a first edition. Sometimes autographed copies. I'll admit, if the cover is pretty without the jacket, I buy it for decoration or to turn into an altered book. Sometimes an old book that is really tattered gets upcycled for gift wrapping, tags, shredded for filler, etc.

Don't forget to take time for yourself though. Doesn't matter how cool or amazing your plans are if you freak yourself right out of the Christmas spirit. You are hereby given permission for at least one guilty pleasure if not two guilty pleasures WITHOUT the guilt. Be it a Starbucks run, a new book (Christmas themed of course!) or a very chick-flick Christmas movie from Lifetime or the Hallmark Channel, go for it. ;-)

Kicking off Christmas

2011-12-02T12:22:00.001-08:00

Ashley and Kirsten below totally freaking out over the hotel room view in NYC on Thanksgiving weekend. The Macy's Parade and Thanksgiving with my sisters was a huge part of our Christmas kick-off. Just spending a few moments to remind anyone who may venture here to take care of yourself this Christmas season. Generally if you're reading this, it's because you are a girly girl who likes to play with art supplies and skews towards vintage, eclectic style, but all are welcome!

But...if you are a girly girl, you may also be the one in charge of Christmas in your home. That may also mean you get what amounts to a third full time job for the month of December, sometimes stretching into January. So, take the time to care for yourself. You know the saying, if Mrs. Claus ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! (or something like that, but it's true)

If you do get some time to take a few moments to yourself to play with art supplies or make heartfelt gifts for your loved ones and friends, check these links out for great ideas, tutorials and more:

One Pretty Thing ~tons of links to tutorials for everything under the sun, you could get lost for hours here

Little Pink Studio ~if you're into vintage chic, Cerri will show you the way

The Graphics Fairy ~loads of vintage images to download for creating to your hearts content

If you're in the mood for guided Christmas creating, check out these workshops or tutorials:

Teresa McFayden ~offering her 5th annual Christmas e-course

I'm Just a girl ~Spark your Christmas workship with a big emphasis on transforming what you already own. You know I'm a green, tree-hugger, so this speaks to me.

christytomlinson: 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas.. a mini workshop ~12 different talented artists will guide you through not only ornaments, but also home decor and gifts as well.

Tim Holtz ~I think this is Tim's 5th year of his 12 Tags of Christmas. Free for you to enjoy, duplicate or use for inspiration. You'll learn lots of new tips here too!

Through December, if you like, keep checking back to the Granny Panty Chic blog for more Christmas ideas and (hopefully) inspiration. I'll admit, I get totally giddy over this month. It's just gotta spill somewhere and it's gonna be here I decided. ;-)

How time has flown by

2011-04-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today is my oldest child's birthday. My little cuddle bug with the big giggle and even bigger sense of adventure is...a man. (and yet, I mysteriously remain forever young!)

I can tell you this; I have a friend who says "Little children, little problems. Big children, big problems." It's true. When you are in the midst of colic and diaper rash and potty training, it can be truly, mind-numbingly exhausting. When your teenager comes to you after some incredibly bad decision and is facing extreme consequences, it is true that when they're heart breaks, your heart breaks right along with them.

We can't dwell on the valleys because the moutaintops are numerous and rewarding and life is a terrifying, wonderful thing.

Cliches are grounded in truth. The cliche that they grow up before you know it is absolutely true. Oh, to redeem the time wasted when I was 'too busy' or 'too tired' as he grew up, but I am trying to choose to treasure all the moments, the milestones and the memories.

Zach is a guy's guy, so I made him a pretty simple, but bright card.

One of his little secrets is that he loves flowers and gardens. He won't tell you, but it's easy to observe. When he was younger and we lived in a townhouse, we built some raised flowerbeds. I bought loads of perennials and annuals. He is the one who arranged how they were planted. When he badly hurt his knee and realized he was a horrible patient at home, he asked his dad to help him shop for a rose bush as an apology. He walks around the yard smelling flowers and brushing his hand over herbs and he takes an active interest in the vegetable beds, but his big request is to plant watermelons. So, a little spring bouquet for him. How appropriate that the world is coming awake as his birthday arrives.

And this is super late, but last week Opus Gluei had a challenge to use material in a project. I have an older friend who is extremely ill and I know that she loves flowers, so this little embellished burlap bag will hold a tiny bud vase and several tiny daffodils. Hope she likes it!

It ain't pretty, but it's home

2011-03-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

I love spring! Now, if only spring weather loved me. Can you believe there is a wintry mix in the forecast for tomorrow?!? Nevertheless, some early spring can't wait for me to be having a comfy 'jeans and t-shirt weather' day. They need to go in now if we want to enjoy later. So, already planted last fall were 2 varieties of garlic. Nom, nom, nom, not only tasty, but protects us from vampires and people who invade our personal bubble. I also transplanted a few dozen strawberry plants into a new bed. It was time. The asparagus bed is well established. I was so very excited when it started sending up a few tender shoots last week. I even steamed a few. Spring weather being what it is though, we've had some frosts that have halted those messengers of spring for another week or two, so my little asparagus feast was premature.

This spring, I've got more beds to work with thanks to some very hard work on the part of the youth missions team doing a work-study project and to a few intensive weekends of work for Tim and I. Last week I started the early spring planting by putting in a few different types of lettuces and seeding Swiss Chard. This past Saturday, when we had a surprisingly nice day, I hurried to spend a little time planting kale, cauliflour, broccoli, shallots, spinach, onions and spring peas.

We have an inquisitively nosy neighbor who pointed out that we were supposed to get snow that night and all of my plants would probably die. I was also warned that both spinach and kale contain chemicals that inhibit the absorption of calcium. I planted anyway; sure the babies would survive since they'd been hardening off on the front porch through a few frosts anyway and don't worry about kale or spinach. You'd have to eat a bucketload at a time to worry about calcium absorption and cooking them even briefly deactivates the calcium hindering chemical.

I let him boss me around a bit and send him off with fresh eggs (but not before he tells me how I should grow flax to feed to the chickens raising their Omega-3 levels) before he goes on his way. :)

All of the plants don't look so hot right now because until they are a bit larger, we have to protect them from Peter Cottontail and his voraciously hungry family members. It's so disheartening to put in several hours planting a garden, anticipating the harvest, going to sleep feeling you've done a good turn for the earth and your local food system only to wake up and discover your freshly planted garden has been mowed down by killer bunnies. It's ain't pretty, but the coffee cans and old pots work as a barrier.

But, there are signs of a beautiful spring...in new baby chicks...and old stands of sunny daffodils.

Speaking of spring crops, if you garden, this year consider planting extra to donate to your local food bank. In the mid-90s, a group of gardeners founded Plant a Row for the Hungry to do just that. Some news sources say a recovery is well under way, but in my area, local food banks have seen a large increase of families in need of assistance. What better way to help out than with homegrown produce?

That 70's Chair

2011-03-10T09:25:00.000-08:00

After a wonderfully amazing weekend at a youth worker's conference in Chicago with 3000 other crazy people, tim and I decided we really need a night of pure, unabashed retail therapy...at Goodwill.

Yes, the Goodwill you donate your old toasters and ugly Christmas sweaters to. :)

We went to the store nearest our home where there was nothin' good to be seen...until we went over to the furniture side. There I saw, sat and briefly noted a chair and then dismissed the idea of it. I couldn't find the price tag and since I was pretty sure that didn't mean the chair was free (always a faint hope, right?), I passed and we went on to the next store.

Tim was incredibly upset to find the most deliciously soft, supple Italian leather shoe.

One.

One shoe.

Either someone donated only one or perhaps a one legged man bought the other shoe. He moped about for a few minutes until I found a milk glass coffee mug for $.48 and his faith in a good bargain was restored.

While we're leaving the store, I suddenly blurt out that we've got to go back to the first store for that chair.

Tim does a double take because he doesn't remember any chair at all, but he dutifully drives us back to the first store while I'm trying to describe the exact color of this chair, how comfortable it is and that I have the perfect place for it.

We get to store where I excitedly lead him to the chair.

"Oh" he says. Not "Oh!" as in cool. Not "Oh" as in wicked awesome. But "Oh" as in "Didn't the 70's do enough damage to our young, impressionable psyches?"

I tell him to sit in it.

"Oh" he says. as in "Oh, thank you Lord for creating an instantly amazing place to snooze, read a novel or watch a game." And in the wink of an eye, we were loading this much too large chair into his much too small trunk and driving home with flashing lights all the way. (when I get really happy, I either chatter away or fall completely silent. this was totally a chatter away ride home. Tim probably wanted to put me in the trunk and let the chair ride up front.)

It does have great lines. And I like the green, just so you know. I think I'll paint the feet black, but for now, I think I'll take a snooze in my new 70's chair. :)

C-H-R-Y-S-alis!

2011-02-19T15:01:00.000-08:00

I'm a volunteer youth leader in my spare time. What does that mean?

A lot of the time, it means sleep deprivation, heart ache for them, overwhelming joy for them, advocating for them and way too much caffeine while sharing the message that God loves them and longs to be in relationship with them. Some days it leans heavily to the sleep deprivation side and others it leads heavily to the sharing God side. Any balance isn't of my own doing, but from the Big Guy.

Lately it means I won't have one free weekend for well over a month due to youth related activities, but I'm having an awesome time this weekend.

You see, last night we dropped off one of our teens for a special weekend retreat. Just last year, this girl was so shy, so introverted that most of the time it looked like she was trying to escape.

Slowly, slowly we got to know her and she got to know us and Look Out World, here she comes! All by herself, she asked to join the church and be baptized. A lot of us fully mature adults are too hesitant to make a decision like that.

She also stepped out of her peer group and joined us at Creation with about 100,000 other crazy teenagers. I'll never forget the night she came up to me, jumping up and down, covered in glow sticks, hugging me and screaming "I love Tobymac!" Gone was the shy flower.

And she just keeps surprising me. So, this weekend she is at the retreat getting treated like a Rock Star and showered in love. One of the ways we show our love is through all of the little details (and I can't go into those because I don't want to spoil the surprise for anyone else who might go).

I do think I can share these...Sometimes they may find a personalized placemat at their meals. Sometimes. I made her a couple and took them to be laminated, so they're safe from spaghetti sauce. They're pretty simple. Couldn't go wild with the embellishments since they were going to be laminated, but I have to say my favorite is the big layered butterfly I cut with my Silhouette.

That's her, a beautiful butterfly. :)

Sweetness for the Sweethearts

2011-02-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

Sooooo, it's about time to pack up the Valentine goodies because I need to move on to some top secret projects for someone, but before I finish sealing these up in envelopes, here are a few more sweet, funny Valentines...You'll note the copious use of those little honeycomb heart cupcake decorations. And I found these bags of vintage buttons I had packaged up for a flea market that got rained out, so I decided their creamy patina was perfect to frame a heart. For a soft, simple Valentine decoration that wasn't blatantly red & pink, I cut out a heart old-school style; fold, cut and unfold. Pulled out cards of vintage (and not so vintage) laces & trims and hot glued them. A banner covered in antique German glass glitter with I Love You and a vintage earring finished it all off. I'm adding this heart decoration to the Opus Gluei challenge of creating a decoration for your home. Doesn't have to be a Valentine's decoration. You are free to get crazy. :) Be sure to check out their other entries!

The Season of Lurve

2011-02-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

Have I asked you to hold me back from buying any more Valentine's Day papers because I already have more than I'll ever need? If I have, apologies. If I haven't, for the love of Pete, somebody stop me!

And half the time I make cards, layouts, canvases for different occasions using supplies that have nothing do to with the intended holiday. So why do this stuff continue to work its way into my supply? I'm pretty sure it's because we're all a bunch of happy enablers. Our 12 step program involves tips for finding the latest & greatest, new sources and coffee places in close proximity to our supply meccas.

Faced with all of these supplies, lovely and amazing though they are, I sat down to try and actually use some of them.

I made these cards with a mix of Teresa Collins, K & Co, Basic Grey and Heidi Swapp (super old stash, yikes). And you know what? I still have a LOT of Valentine's stuff from Teresa Collins, K & Co and Basic Grey. I love it all though. I mean, how could you not love a big pile of soft blush, pink and red with frilly stuff all around?

The next card has mostly stash; some Teresa Collins, Basic Grey, K & Co, Making Memories. But what isn't old stash is something I found in the cupcake supplies at the store. I saw these honeycomb heart cupcake toppers and said to myself "Self, those would make killer cute embellishments on a Valentine's card!"

You know what? They really do! Just snap the wooden toothpick off and you are all set. If you're mailing the card, don't open the honeycomb. Let the sender do that (send a little set of user instructions of course). The honeycome hearts are getting used elsewhere too. Hope to show that off eventually.

Until then, it's less than 2 weeks til Valentine's Day! If your honey doesn't do something special for you, do something special for yourself. You deserve it! :)

My Funny Valentine

2011-01-24T11:03:00.000-08:00

After having an amazing time for Making Merry in December, Rosemary, Kim and I decided to get together for a day to celebrate Valentine's Day. This time Kim was hostess at her lovely home and she fed us incredible food. Nom, nom, nom. I'm still dreaming about that white lasagna...

Kim had us create 2 beautiful cards. I love that she didn't use a traditional Valentine's Day palette with the lavender card. For the other card, she had us beading which was soooooo fun! I could've kept making little beaded petals all day long. Rosemary used her wicked cool Cricut creativity to cut out matchboxes with acetate windows and brought an awesome stack of vintage images for us to fashion adorable Valentine's decorations. I hung them up right after I got home to show them off! I had bought a stack of chandelier ornaments after Christmas at Target (love Target!)for 50% off. I had a stash of honeycomb wedding bells because I always go to the party supply store for something like napkins and can't help but peruse the wedding & baby aisles for art supplies. Take some Paris slide images, vintage sheet music and a bit of glitter to alter those chandelier ornaments and they become gilded bell ornaments for Valentine's Day.
One of my favorite things to do (it seems), is to create holiday projects with supplies that aren't holiday themed. A few years ago, I bought a stack of Foofala papers from a friend who was having a scrapbook yard sale. 100 sheets of fun. None of them holiday themed, but some of them with a romantic, dusty palette that was ready to be fashioned into a Valentine.
I always sketch card designs or layout designs in my notebook. If you ever see my scribble-scrabble, you will look from sketch to finished project and wonder to yourself, "I don't see the resemblance." It helps me thing and work through the design process. For this card, I sketched (ha!) it out and started to measure, fold, play with different patterned papers, etc. I pulled in the grade school trick of folding paper in half to create a heart and used that as a template to cut a heart from a page torn from a vintage German book. I printed and distressed a love poem to use as the card sentiment. Added some bling, distress inks and vintage crepe paper and hope it fulfills the romance quota. But even more than the projects, it is the decision to take the time away for the purpose of creating, sharing and oh, the laughter that is food for the soul. We really did laugh over some funny Valentines. And I can't wait to come up with an excuse (perfectly good reason) to do it again!

These goodies also go perfectly with the latest Opus Gluei challenge. If you haven't checked them out before, head on over. Low pressure, high-octane creative fun! Come as you are and be embraced by the Poobahs. :)

Fabulous Fifteen!

2011-01-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

Oh wow! Just. Wow.

My baby is turning fifteen this Saturday. She was a blizzard baby, born right after the crazy blizzard we had in 1996. I remember my neighbor, who was a firefighter, freaking out when he saw me shoveling snow. I was ready for her to ARRIVE.

He very kindly offered to help me deliver her should I go into spontaneous labor. I think after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I thanked him and said something to the effect of "I will walk to the ER in snowshoes before you deliver this child because no way would I ever be able to look you in the eye again."

Fortunately all the roads were cleared of snow and the skies were full of stars on the night she came into this world. When I remember the night of her birthday I always think of this line by Shakespeare, "There was a star danced and under that I was born."
And she is a star. Happy Birthday Baby Girl! (I made this very girly card for her. She's starting to actually like bling-bling, so I'm milking that for all it's worth!) So much glitter on here. And rhinestones, pearls, Glimmer Mist, paper lace, old tulle, vintage seam binding, etc. It's an homage to a young lady who is growing up on me, but it still very playful at heart.

Return to the Roots

2011-01-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

Long, long ago, a friend tricked me into scrapbooking by asking me to host a Creative Memories party to help her launch her new business. LOL Little did I know that as I was cutting wedding photos into star shapes and smattering them with sticker sneezes that I would become so hooked.

But I was.

It was a tether back to the creative little girl that I had been; who had been choked by the weeds of life, the real world and the admonition to 'grow up'. (as I type this I can't help but think of the John Candy movie, 'Uncle Buck' where he tells off the principal who wants him to crush the spirit of his imaginative niece, what a hilarious and sweet moment that was. Look it up!)

To all those who think scrapbooking is something soccer moms do in their myriad hours of spare time, I'm sorry you feel so negatively. I've met incredibly talented women (and men!) with rich, full lives who pour their creative spirit into documenting a life well-lived. Some are married, some are single. Some have 10 children, others have no children. Some are doctors and others are stay at home parents. ALL are valuable.

And yet, as much as I enjoy it and continue to invest in new product and/or tools, I hadn't scrapbooked at all in quite some time. I made a lot of art that I had a great time creating, but I'd gotten away from the heart of what got me back to creating in the first place: scrapbooking.

So, while others dressed up to go out and party on NYE, I pulled on some yoga pants, brewed some hot coffee and went to the studio to play.

And I loved it.

What I did isn't elaborate or newsworthy, but it was nourishing and renewing and most of all, it made my 2 oldest feel treasured because they are the subject of my time and effort. They laugh and weakly attempt to hide it from their friends, but then they pull all the old scrapbooks out and spend hours looking through their own lives. Lives well lived. (forgive the cropping of the photos. I'm still trying to figure out my new camera and its photo editing software!)

Upcycling En Masse

2010-12-30T17:18:00.000-08:00

Elsie Flannigan and Rachel Denbow are about to kick off a year of repurposing, remaking and renewing old, worn or damaged items. In other words, they have tapped into a passion of mine: Upcycling. Join in the effort here...Project ReStyle - A Beautiful Mess

Go against the grain of New Years exclamations of Out with the Old and In with the New. Embrace a new resolution of In with the Old and Who needs the New!

Making Merry Revisited

2010-12-20T08:02:00.001-08:00

During this time of year when, in general, women all over the world are busy doing, going and buying for others (and quite happily too), I invited Rosemary and Kim over to put the breaks on the Christmas crazy and spend an entire day Making Merry. What better way to recharge and refuel in the midst of the Christmas season than to indulge in a bit of top notch retail therapy and ultra creative play?

We went to one of my favorite places to get decorating inspiration, Chartreuse and Company and then we stopped in at a new store down the street from my home, Wild Rose and Co. that also does an amazing job of merchandising the goods.

Then it was back to the house where we said hi to the City Chicks and then got down to the business of creative play...

Rosemary had brought the motherload of Christmas stashes (I want to go shopping in her studio!) as we embellished wine boxes. We were so proud of our accomplishments that they all got an impromptu photo shoot (mine is on the far left).

I decided to give mine away to my mom (She never reads my blog, so I'm safe. Did I tell you about the time Mom went skinny dipping with my Dad when I was a little kid? hehehe) and put some very delicate, breakable Christmas ornaments in it. Voila, perfect vehicle for a fragile gift.

Then we stopped for snacks, nom, nom, nom. There shall be no art without serious carbo loading.

After that, we started on my very long, very messy project. Let's just say that cotton batting, cotton balls, glue and mica make incredibly gorgeous finished clouds and snow scenes, but the process is like you gave a kid a roll of duct tape and a bottle of paste then told them to go to town with it. The final result was a snow laden cloud with a vintage Christmas light to lead the way through the dark night with a vintage goodie laden tin in tow (or that's what I hope it looks like).

The inspiration were some vintage cotton batting ornaments, some 'travel' related ornaments my children have the involve zeppelins, or cotton batting sail boats and another project where someone used a vintage tin as a balloon basket. (I've come to the conclusion that a truly original idea, if it should ever suddenly hit me, will probably happen long after I've gone gray and senile) After all that creating, we were wiped out, so it was dinner time! Tim, otherwise knowns as Pizza Boy, took our orders and made us homemade pizzas which was followed by more carb loading because being covered in glue and mica burns serious, um, brain cells?

For our final creative endeavor, Kim taught Rosemary and I how to make flowers from ribbon. Both Rosemary and I kind of shivered with intimidation until Kim guided us through beautiful petals, leaves and more. Seriously we had no idea how cool it could be and all of the amazing projects that can be done with ribbon flowers!

Of course, I don't have a photo of mine because we didn't finish. Our spirit was willing, but our bodies were weak. I've had my pieces in a basket by the sofa so I can slowly put it all together, but I think Kim enabled us to explore yet another new creative outlet!

(And I think we ate some more as we packed away all of our projects. Who are we to waste perfectly good carbs?) As we hugged each other goodbye, cries were heard of Making Merry to all and to all a Good Night!

Egg-static, lol

2010-12-10T19:59:00.000-08:00

Today we had our first 'real' snow that stuck to the ground. All in all, it was maybe 1/2 inch, but it was enough to cause several accidents and cancel all after school activities.

This also meant the first snow for the City Chick(en)s. I went out to check on them and they were all cowering inside the coop, hovering around their pop door looking out at me.

I meant to tempt them with some sunflower seed and a few brave girls ran out for about 10 seconds to gobble some up before running right back inside the coop and scolding me loudly as if to say "You half-wit woman, can't you see the sky is falling?"

They returned to their vigil of hovering around the pop door and clucking about the end of the world that was surely nigh.

Biology got the best of them and several still layed their lovely little eggs.

We are getting a kick out of giving away fresh eggs to neighbors and friends. I suppose if you had a highly developed palate, you might say "Dayum, these are downright amazing eggs." I'm not one of those people. But I can tell you that their yolks are brighter & sturdier than any store bought egg. I can also say that I've been told because our chicks eat a well-rounded diet that their eggs are healthier than their store bought counterparts.
And, by golly, they are pretty! Each day going to collect eggs is a bit like Christmas morning. Or maybe I'm just incredibly easy to entertain. :)

The Circle o'Vintage

2010-12-04T05:13:00.000-08:00

My old house has something that often foils my attempts to hang things on walls: loads of windows and plaster. I am determined that this beauty IS going up this year rather than languishing in obscurity. I may be scaling back, but I still love the shiny (oooh, shiny). Sweet angel on her cloud...Love this bell! Full of vintage love. It will go up. I may crack some plaster, but it's one of my projects for the day. And I carved out some time to play with Opus Gluei for their current "Getting Frosted" challenge. It was like carved out while watching Jimmy Fallon late at night carved out, but I was having too much fun for sleep.

When I make stuff purely from old stash I start to feel bad about shopping for new goodies.

I mean, really, really guilty bad.

For about a minute.

And then I'm over it. :)

But, I do quite love pulling together a project from old stash and creating something new.

This wintery, frosty card uses old Heidi Swapp, Ranger, Martha Stewart, Making Memories, Basic Grey, vintage flowers and I used vintage tinsel to make a nest. If you figure out how to removed my camera covered face from the reflection, let me know. I'm not fluent in Photoshop, so it'll stay there for now. ;)

We Need A Little (Smaller) Christmas

2010-12-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

right this very minute...

My poor husband. After years of careful training on my part, he has finally learned to fully embrace that Clark Griswald Christmas spirit while his wife is beginning to recite 'edit, edit, edit' in her head.

What does this mean? While Tim is wandering around the attic and trying to hand me every single Christmas thing we own (and it's a lot), I'm yelling up "Not this year." Hence the grumbling and muttering from up above as he tells the rejected items they are going to the cast-off corner.

I'm not getting rid of anything, but I have been trying to pull back, refocus and refresh our decorations for the season...without buying anything new unless it's living like wreaths or swags. My BFFs might faint dead away when they read this that has been typed by my own two hands: There can be too much of a good thing. (Thud heard in MA, I know)

Instead of putting out every single snowman I own, just a few came out to play this year. Instead of spreading out our Christmas trees into several areas, I grouped them in a miniature forest.

I like it. It's not the heavenly displays from Anthropologie or Kate's Paperie, but it seems...new...even though it's all old stuff.

I did give in to dressing up the chandeliers a bit.

And Sozo kitty was overjoyed to see her annual December napping spot return again. The minute that tree skirt went down, I swear she was sprawled out on it in less than a minute.

Tim will thank me for all that editing later when he's not carrying all that stuff back up to the attic. ;)

Opus Gluei Challenge

2010-11-27T08:57:00.001-08:00

Yeah, I managed to squeak in another Opus Gluei challenge this weekend! I probably went off the color palette a bit by throwing a blue in there, but when it feels so right, how can it be wrong? :) I pulled from MME, Heidi Swapp, 7 Gypsies, Ranger, Basic Grey and Target $ Spot for this one. It's not too complicated, but it is cute (I hope).

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? Wonderful I hope! Now on to....

Christmas Crazy!

Ok, if you've been here before you know I get totally geeked out over Christmas. I'm insufferable really. To that end, I have put the Christmas playlist back up on the bottom of the blog. If you don't like it, mute it. If you do, turn up the dial and sing along!

And, I'm losing sleep in the name of merriment. As in Making Merry! A couple of friends and I are getting together for a little holiday experiment. If it works out, we may expand it to other holidays as well. As it is, I'm can't wait to share my project with them; a little vintage chic with a bit of a nod towards Steampunk style (Loved that Steampunk storyline on Castle a couple of months ago!)

Time to get back to decking some halls...

Merry Inspiration

2010-11-15T15:49:00.001-08:00

I think it's fairly evident by now that Christmas is upon the horizon. I knew it was here the moment I polished off my first bag of Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses (drat you Hershey!). When the Cadbury Mini Balls showed up at Target, I nearly had a happy seizure (Did you know in Canada, they have these all year round? Dude, no fair!)

Just a few links to get you in a merry mood...

Inspired Ideas, The Christmas Issue OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS, this online issue is full of Christmas love. I know at least one idea that I'm tweaking from this and about 10 more ideas that are on my 'must-do' list!

Holiday...with Matthew Mead Seriously, I danced a jig when I opened my mailbox to find this gift in it this evening. A flippin' full on jig, I tell ya! (while holding eggs in one hand too) I haven't even gotten past the first few pages and I'm already salivating at the joy contained in the pages of this lush magazine. Only 'magazine' isn't the right word for it. It's a revelation of Christmas pleasures supported online by links to patterns, recipes and more. You can only get it by ordering online or from a store that specially ordered a box of this goodness.

I have followed Matthew Mead's creative trail for years and he's assembled a fabulous team that has put together "Holiday" so thoughtfully that you won't regret getting a copy of your own.

Joli Paquet Back for another Christmas with free tutorials (and these are GOOD tutorials too) and teasers about their famous kit sales from a group of talented artists, make sure you don't forget to check Joli Paquet often.

One Pretty Thing Here you will find ideas, inspiration and free downloads on a daily basis. If you can't get excited about something on this site, the Whos from Whoville need to grow your Grinchy heart a size or two.

Opus Gluei, the Gratitude Edition

2010-11-12T06:41:00.000-08:00

I hope Rosemary and Jana haven't kicked me off the rolls for Opus Gluei. I know I've been a bad artist. Having my entire studio flooded and torn apart for months really threw me into an art funk (in a bad way). It's still not completely put together, but I had to get in there and do what I could to pull a Tim Gunn (make it work). (And I will digress here and say this about Project Runway: Mondo got robbed. Humph.)

Then, to just totally throw me for a loop, my trusty camera went kaput. It began putting out images that looked like negatives from the film reel for the original Excorcist. I don't care what Tim Gunn says, I could not make that work at all. I frittered away for months using only my camera phone to capture shaky images.

When dear hubby and I were about to leave for vacation, I stomped my little feet (or long, wide, plantar fascitis plagued feet) and announced via text message whilst at Costco, that I WAS getting a camera before the trip. Remind me of my behavior next time one of my teens gives me attitude. Who was going to believe I was viewing lava if I didn't have the proof? (Uh and I still don't have proof. They wouldn't let us that close to the lava. But I do have a 'Beach closed. Shark sighting.' photo!)

So folks, I hope this means I'm back in the business of creating and occasionally participating in some Opus Gluei fun!

Their latest challenge was Attitude of Gratitude. Someone recently went above and beyond for me, so I wanted to give her a little somethin' somethin'. She loves herself some good chocolate. That can be had from the store, but it needed some presentation, some panache, a little something extra. I pulled from the gorgeous fall palette for color inspiration and glued a lush Prima flower that I'd been waiting for the perfect project to use it because it was THAT special to a golden organza bag.

For a card, I did several scalloped circles held together by ball chain embellished with a glass leaf charm, a silver letter charm and some vintage seam binding. Then those teensie circle letters from Jenni Bowlin nestled into the little scalloped to spell 'Grateful'. I wrote her a note of thanks upon the circles and will be giving it to her this weekend. Since she never reads blogs, I think I'm safe in showing it here in advance. I hope!

Egg-citement!

2010-11-09T06:14:00.000-08:00

So, no comment on the long, uncomfortable silences on this blog. Same story women have told for ages...

Last weekend, the hubby and I were running around doing errands and it occured to me that Maryland at this time of year is wildly beautiful. The colleges deftly schedule their tours to coincide with the perfect scenery. Numerous fall festivals and craft shows abound. Most importantly, our chickens have started laying!

Yes, the previous freeloaders are slowly beginning to come off scholarship and earn their keep. Surprisingly, the first little layer was Peanut, our black silkie and the tiniest of the flock. Peanut is our youngest daughter's personal chicken, so young daughter is especially proud that her chickie is the chickie who could. (We all need to start refering to Peanut as a she since we've previously called Peanut a he. Our apologies Peanut!)
Peanut lays the cutest, half-size bantam pullet eggs.

The next little chickie on the production line is Duckie, our Buff Orpington and acknowledged chicken public relations ambassador. Duckie is the calmest, most inquisitive little lady who enjoys attention, so she is the one to comfort and reaasure those who view chickens negatively.

And most recently, Patches, our pretty Easter Egger with a funny, floppy comb has begun laying a lovely blue-green egg. She sings her quirky egg song beforehand, arranges the nest box just so and then puffs up before dropping off her contribution to the egg carton.

We do have a mystery layer who hasn't figured out that dropping your eggs willy-nilly in the chicken run isn't so wise. We are hopeful she will watch her chickie sisters and follow their lead.

Most of the others show signs of joining the production line soon including one little white silkie who I was quite sure was a rooster and it now most assuredly a little lady with a really odd comb.

So, soon quiche, omelets and angel food cakes will abound! If it begins to get too crazy, we'll resort to tossing eggs in unlocked cars and leaving them anonymously on neighbors porches (must like our practice with zucchini and tomatoes in the summer).

Don't even ask hubby how much that first egg cost!

A Product of Their Times

2010-07-14T13:15:00.001-07:00

Yes, yes, yes, this blog has been collecting dust for months. Sorry if you sneeze! No promises that it'll get any better, but who knows?

I was on a forum the other day and there was a discussion of products our mothers bought (or prepared) when we were children that we now despise. I remember my mom used to buy imitation chocolate chips for her cookies. Not only that, but she would double the cookie recipe without doubling the chips! Not just one crime, but two; especially to unwavering chocolate lovers like me. I don't know that they even make those chips anymore or perhaps that my eyes refuse to register them on the shelf.

That wasn't the only bizarre food choice in our household when I was growing up. When my mom was expecting my little sister, she craved sardine sandwiches with mustard. Guess what we had for lunch a lot? A whole lot.

Sometime in the late 70s or early 80s (I think) was when generic foods came into existence. There was a warehouse store that was totally foreign to me. You bought these enormous boxes of food, but all the packaging looked the same; either white or yellow with a checkmark and plain black font. Duh, all the food tasted the same too; like crusty sock fungus or remarkably like the cardboard boxes they were packaged in. I know several store brand foods are quite alright now, but back then, it was social death to have a friend glimpse into your cabinets to see a flash of plain boxed puffed rice insta-dinner.

Now, if I go further back a generation as it related to me, I remember the meals my grandparents made and their attitudes towards food. My maternal grandparents had a large garden each year (and still do though they are both well seasoned in years) and canned many, many vegetables, fruits, jams & jellies. Prize winning cans in fact. My mom has groused on more than one occasion that Nana cooked the vegetables to mush (true a lot of times), but at least Nana knew where they were grown, what they were grown with and what they were grown without. Though her cinnamon squash will go down in infamy (because it most certainly did not go down my gullet), Nana and Papa approached food in the same way they were raised with food.

Surely they've all grown. Nana now buys store bought pies and several convenience foods. My parents are once again growing much of their own food and have farm fresh eggs from their motley crew of chickens.

What am I a product of? Pretty much an unhealthy amalgam of what was first taught to me in school as the 4 food groups. Now it's the food pyramid. And a lot of the food on the shelves in the grocery come with ingredients lists that are longer than the ingredients list on my eye shadow. Now that's freaky. And I can't pronounce the ingredients either.

We've swung back and forth between low-fat/no-fat, sugar free, high fiber, no carbs, good carbs, omega-3s, whatchapeas, etc to the point where frankly I think most of us are more confused than not about healthy eating.

The author Michael Pollan tells us it might help if we shop the aisles of our local grocery and only buy things our great-grandmother would recognize. That would pretty much cut out all the interior aisles. Not to go label crazy, but if my Great Grandma Rae wouldn't buy it, then I should think about leaving it on the shelf myself.

As Richard Dreyfuss tells Bill Murray in "What About Bob", baby steps. What are my baby steps right now?

Today I picked fresh peppers, cherry tomatoes, my first 'big' tomato (a Cherokee Purple), burgundy okra, basil and Italian flatleaf parsley. I also dug up all the sweet onions.

Oh, and I fed these little girls watermelon rinds which they gobbled right up. Should be weeks though before they are off 'scholarship' and start earning their keep by laying eggs.

The first girl is LaVerne (we have a Shirley too). She's a Silkie bantam which means she's like a miniature poodle prissy poodle chicken. The second girl is Cream Puff who has a lovely feather pattern of a red head cascading into silvery blue tail feathers. She's an Araucana (or Easter Egger), so she'll lay blue or green eggs.

Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming: Summer!

2010-06-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Lurve Day!

2010-02-13T20:04:00.001-08:00

Once again that day of the year again that is sure to inspire thoughts of love or sure to bring sad & lonely disappointment is here: Valentine's Day. My hubby is out of town all weekend, will be home for only one night (a late one at that) then leave to go to LA for the rest of the week (poor baby, his team has a rented beach house, lol), so I won't have much Cupid-like activity. I do have my 3 children home for Valentine's Day though, a rare treat since 2 of them are halfway out of the nest already. As usual, in the morning, they'll find a few surprises waiting for them.

I made this lollie (above)after being inspired by a tutorial on the House of 3 Inspiration blog done by Rhonna Farrer. She also did a great tutorial on making blossoms with coffee filters, so when hubby gets home, he will need to run out and buy more. Whoopsie! Hey, I got carried away! To make our Valentine's weekend more festive for the kids, I hung a few banners and paper lanterns. All of the pink even catches the light and reflects a soft, romantic light around the rooms; an unexpected bonus.

Friday night, I took my daughter, her boyfriend and I went out to see the new movie, Valentine's Day. It was frothy and cute. No big, deep life lessons, but I got to hang with my girl, get to know her young man better and laugh at the crazy parking jobs in the snow around the theater. The government had declared a state of emergency, schools were out and our mail never arrived, but by golly, that theater was packed to the last seat. Cabin fever had everyone aching to get out!

Look what was outside of our 'cabin'...a supersized and scary couple of icicles. We have very tall windows, so these would be lethal should you be under one the moment they decide to break loose from their perch. Had a bit of a "Psycho" shower fright when I opened the curtain to see those! Maybe, just maybe, at this rate the icicles and snow may melt in time for summer break. I hear we're supposed to get more snow on Monday. Noooooooooooooooooooo!

So, it's snowing. Yet again. :P

2010-02-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

The artsy craftsy pictures were going to be on the bottom of this post, but blogger won't let me move them, so here they stay. I made this heart banner after being inspired by a project on Teresa McFayden's Paper Romance e-zine.
The necklaces below are little surprises for some special people. The card the necklaces are mounted upon is simply cardboard that's been masked and Glimmer Misted to within an inch of its life. Up close, they are dripping in shimmer. To make the "Beautiful One" word strip, I cut patterned paper down to the width of Dymo label tape and ran it through the Dymo. Then I swiped a fairly dry Old Paper Distress ink pad across the letters to help them show more clearly. I hope they like them!

It would've been a disservice to any of the few readers of this blog to read me waxing eloquent upon the evils of snow. Yet here I am, to wax eloquent upon the evils of snow while it is (no surprise) snowing out with blizzard (sometimes hurricane forces) winds.

School has been out and will be out for the remainder of the week. Fortunately, I live in a little town that is managed with a velvet-covered iron fist, so our roads are usually fine. Unfortunately, the hubby hadn't been further than the local grocery store (honestly, one we could walk to if we needed), so he thought the rest of the state had to be fine (he also works from home). This sheltered view led to him expressing disbelief when I told him that the rest of the state is, indeed, not fine. That major roads aren't quite clear and many neighborhood roads are nearly impassable. Traffic lights are flashing which leads to replays of Drivers Ed in our heads as we battle the 'polite driver' vs the 'I'm first and I don't give a rip about the rules driver' and me, the 'did all you people forget basic drivers ed?!? driver'.

Enough of my whining (but, seriously folks, why do they not issue frequent customer cards for liquor stores?), life goes on, right?

A couple of weeks ago, I won a fabulous prize on Heidi Swapp's blog, Still Me. A necklace made by Lisa Leonard Designs. This is the necklace I won: lluminate and I was able to choose what I wanted stamped onto the necklace. I chose "Walk in the light" in reference to a few things. 1 John 1:7, Matthew 5:16 and jumping off of this performance by artist, Tobymac (turn off my music player at the bottom of the blog to watch if you'd like):

Apparently the mail carrier went through the snow because it showed up at my home yesterday and it is beautiful. A big thanks to both Heidi Swapp and Lisa Leonard for such a generous gift! I will wear it often as a reminder to not only talk the talk, but to walk the walk.

Here are a few pics of our lovely snow from last weekend without the addition of the snow we're getting today...

1) Our garage

2) The view down our street

3) My car is under there somewhere!

4) Ash & Jack galloping down the street

A little fun, a little creativity and a lot of frozen toes

2010-01-14T10:32:00.000-08:00

First, there are a couple of birthdays coming up, so I spent a few late nights in the studio. Mostly just communing with pretty paper or supplies, but I did manage to create a couple of cards for special birthday people.

Most importantly is my daughter who turns 14 tomorrow. Wahhhhh! This kid is talented in so many areas that if I weren't there for her very first birthday, I'd swear she came from some other super amazing set of parents. She can jump tall buildings in a single bound, run faster than a locomotive and has a deep empathy for others. I'm so proud of my baby girl. This one is for her, my little blizzard baby...Though you can't see it, this one is full of shimmer. I used glimmer mist and in person, it is full on sparkly. I don't know if anyone remembers wayyyyyy back when I glittered an entire package of Basic Grey chipboard & put it all in a bowl for ready-made embellishments? The 'snowflake' is one of those pieces.

This card is for someone I've known since he was 'this high'. Now he's all grown up with a daughter of his own (daaaaaang, I'm old). This one also fits right in with the latest challenge from Opus Gluei to use a star. And yes, I glittered an entire package of crusty old Lil Davis chipboard stars way back thinking that I might get around to using them on a project. :)

You know how it's been colder than a Siberian work camp the past couple of weeks? I'm NOT cut out for the cold and anyone around me knows it because I complain at top volume. Hubby and I are in a constant battle over the thermostat. He turns it to something dreadfully low like 60 and I crank it up to something reasonable such as 68.

I don't know what possessed us to travel to NYC during one of the coldest weekends in 40 years, but that's what we did last weekend. I'm still working to regain feeling in my pinky toes. It was cold. Wicked. Freezing. Cold. Even the subway stations were bone chilling. The rats had headed South for the winter. And they were wearing their little rat scarves.

Oddly enough, people still lined up for free samples at the Coldstone Creamery we passed.

As a Christmas gift to each other, hubby and I went to see the newish musical Memphis. Due to the cold, I had been thinking the trip wasn't worth it, but after the show, braving the freezing temps was so worth it. If you are in the market to see a newer show, strongly consider this one. I'd see it again. I'd see it again especially if it were summer and I felt up to standing in line for a Coldstone sample. ;)

To Save A Life

2010-01-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

For several months, I've had this little sidebar on my blog with a link to a movie called To Save A Life. Last month, I had to the opportunity to watch the movie with some fellow youth leaders and we all agree that it gives a realistic portrayal into the lives of our students and the problems they face daily.

Last fall, many of you are aware that my own son went through some terrible struggles and it hit our entire family hard. I have to ask myself, what I could've done differently or if I could've seen any signs of what was coming. Hindsight is 20/20, but I'm doing my best to save other families from going through the same thing.

This movie addresses social division in school, bullying, self-injury, alcohol abuse, some drug use, teen pregnancy and divorce. I believe we are at our best when we are open to helping those around us who are hurting. If you have a teen (or will have a teen, this is happening in middle school too), know a teen or know families with teens, To Save A Life is a movie I believe you need to see.

If your family is involved in a youth group or church, I hope you are planning an event to get your students & families to this movie. If there are no plans, then visit these sites, TO SAVE A LIFE - OFFICIAL MOVIE SITE - In Theaters January 22, 2010 and To Save A Life Leader Resources to help you make plans for seeing the movie and providing opportunities for followup conversations. The leader site has resources for youth leaders, pastors, parents and student leaders.

Your life matters. The lives of our children matter. What are we going to do about it?

The Big Clean

2010-01-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

Once every several months, the urge to superclean the studio hits me. The recent flooding episode added to that urge. Fortunately, the mess hasn't been that horrible to get under control since my past supercleaning challenges have kept supplies to a manageable amount.

I will be donating many supplies to two places. One is the school of my friend's daughter where they host a Jingle Bell Fair for the students every December. The other is Hope Alive Ministries for their children's ministry. This is a wonderful ministry that does more than provide a bed for women & children. It creates a home atmosphere, provides love & security as well as dealing with the issues that led to homelessness and working towards moving these families into independence.

I'm also sending out a few items to Jennifer for her Etsy website which raises money towards fighting cancer. These cards were made with an old SEI line that is so happy to work with. Normally, I'm not an orange or peachy color lover, but with the frigid temps we've been having, these were a sunny getaway to play with.Other supplies used were Heidi Swapp flowers, bling, Ranger Distress ink, American Crafts rubons and Bazzill cardstock.

I also played around making some tags from this massive bunch of tags I bought at an art supply yard sale (where I was selling and had no business buying anything). These will be going to Jennifer too. On these, I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Tattered Angels masks, Basic Grey rubons, decorative packing tape, Making Memories tickets, bling and vintage lace. (the ones on the right are what are headed Jennifer's way) Lastly, being the holiday freak that I am, my eyes are already turned to Valentine's Day. :) Fortunately, thus far, it's only in the artsy, creative department and not the local grocery holiday candy department (where someone told me that Cadbury Mini Eggs are ALREADY in stores. is there no diet justice?!?). To keep my paws off the candy, I may be making a lot of these little collages. This one is already hanging from the Hoosier cabinet. This is truly a hodge podge of different supplies. I've already asked someone to bar the doors should I attempt to enter with any more Valentine's supplies (vintage ones excepted of course!). The silver key is actually a Christmas ornament. Being so focused on Christmas, I'm not sure how my brain disengaged from Silver Bells long enough to think "Key To My Heart" valentine, but it did and I kind of like it. It's a jumble.

All of these meet the challenge from Opus Gluei for the week of use what you got too, so check them out if you want to play along!

Happy New Year Creating!

2009-12-29T11:14:00.000-08:00

Though the tiny studio is not quite put back together, I was able to squeeze in there for some much needed creative therapy yesterday.

Using this set from House of 3 (which by the way, all their Christmas stuff is 50% off til Friday!), Mini-Postcard 2010 Calendar Printable Kit, I made this:

I used the same concept to bind the calendar pages as I did in this post: Kickin' It Old School

The sparkly, dangly thingamajig is a vintage clip on earring. I can just picture it on a formally dressed middle aged 1950's housewife! The lace trim is from an old collar and that last bit I have of that. The rest is seriously old stash that is every bit as beautiful to work with as it was when I first came upon it. That label with 2010 on it? Very old Recollections. ~sigh~ I miss Recollections. The printed paper is old Autumn Leaves Foofala. ~another sigh~ I miss Foofala. At least I have this to remember them by. ;)

Have a Happy New Year! See you on the flipside!

Happy Christmas!

2009-12-25T05:24:00.000-08:00

Top Chef Hometown Heroes

2009-12-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't a Christmas post because there's no way I'm getting a table booked prior to the 25th, but I wanted to spend a moment bragging on 2 local star chefs, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio who were recently on Top Chef.

Michael ultimately won, but I've got to show my allegiance for Bryan since he co-owns VOLT Restaurant in Frederick which since it has been open garnered nothing but accolades from food & wine press. I've only been there for lunch a few times, but each time has been lovely. If you are ever in the Frederick area, let's make it a date!

And you should come to Frederick. I've got to brag on this little town. The downtown area is stellar with some great dining in addition to Volt as well as unique antique stores, boutiques, art galleries & more. The first Saturday of the month, stores & restaurants roll out the red carpet late into the evening for themed special events. Just a few weeks ago, Accessories of Old opened up downtown after moving from Bethesda giving vintage loving folks another haven of wonderfulness to drool over. (It's like a smaller Tinsel Trading!)

We first moved to Frederick because the housing prices were reasonable compared to areas closer to DC or Baltimore where we had been renting & the schools were decent. Very quickly, Frederick County worked its way into our hearts truly becoming home with all it has to offer and only a short drive (or Metro ride) to the major metropolitan areas.

The Top Chef attention has been exciting and a boon for Frederick. We don't 'know' Bryan or Michael, but we cheered them on and share in the excitement of our fellow neighbors. (I made the lime macaroons & those proved pretty special too)

Early Christmas Surprise

2009-12-14T15:05:00.000-08:00

I apologize for not posting a winner to the Christmas giveaway sooner!

I had some flooding in my studio which is where my computer is. The floor cabinets are toast as are all the storage units that were against the outside wall. We had to take the computer down and move everything about while we cleaned the place out and dried things out, but the computer is back up & running. The studio will take a while longer to reassemble after repairs are made, but I'll live.

My littlest elf drew a name from Santa's boot and the winner is Janelle of Coasting Along! Janelle, send me your snail mail address and I'll walk on over to the bustling post office & get this bundle of vintage ephemera on its way to you ASAP.

More Christmas fun coming along soon as I dig myself out of the studio disaster....

The ADHD Christmas creation

2009-12-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

~If you haven't already, leave a comment on the post below for a holiday blog candy giveaway!
Granny Panty Chic: Loopy for Christmas (and a giveaway)

I have two college students who are broke (and so are their parents), but they have the desire to give their friends (and their current squeezes) nice little gifts. With finals and their busy schedules, not only are they broke, but crunched for time as well.
When Heidi Swapp posted this super cool project with candles on her blog, Heidi Swapp Candle Project along with a quick instructional video, I thought it'd be fun to try it for myself, but now my son has asked me to pick up some candles for him to try his hand at as well. She used darling Santa brushes from House of Three. I printed out some images (including sheet music) I already had to try, got excited about the results and subsequently nearly cleaned Michael's out of their Christmas candles.
The best part for my college students is that each candle takes only a few dollars and 5 minutes or less to create.
Since these little projects too so little time, I had a few minutes to play at making a Christmas card.
Materials used: Oooooooooold Melissa Frances papers, text paper, vintage sheet music, creaft store poinsettias, Prima flower centers, Ranger Stickles and vintage glass glitter.

Loopy for Christmas (and a giveaway)

2009-12-04T08:15:00.000-08:00

This little project is straight from our childhood; a paper chain. Even now, children make colorful chains to count down the days to Christmas, my youngest child still among them.

The slight twist is that I used paper taken from an old French book "Les Malheurs De Sophie" (The Troubles of Sophie) that I purchased at the Porte de Clignancourt flea market in Paris. I looked the book up on Wiki and found that a film & ballet had been based upon it as well which is kind of cool. (forgive some of my photos, I think my camera is about to die since it also flipped out on me over Thanksgiving)

For my chain, I used 8 sheets from the book and cut them into 2 inch strips. The pages have a lovely, creamy aged quality and are still quite sturdy.

I used very basic tools, especially since losing my bone folder in a class, so I improvised with a rub-on tool. :)

After cutting my little pile of 2 inch strips, I scored a line down the length of each strip and folded them on the score line. ~This is a super easy project, but not the most mind engaging, so it's perfect to do while watching your favorite Christmas movie.~

Once all of the strips were folded in half lengthwise, I ran a line of glue down one side and pressed. While pressing the halves together, I also ran my fingers along the paper in a curling motion, so that when the glue dried, the strips would already be predisposed to forming a loop. (if that makes any sense, almost like curling ribbon)

Since I'm not the most patient of gals, I skipped the drying part and went straight into stapling my strips into loops connecting them as I went along. The Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher (or whatever it's called) is great for this. The little staples have a nice hold and fit the tone of the project.

When I had attached all of my loops together, I cut lengths of seam binding to tie to each end for hanging. The 8 pages translated into about 8 feet of paper chain. The glimpses of French text and aged paper would go very well decorating all through the year as well as Christmas time. If you'd like, you could also finish the edges of the strips with distress ink or vintage glass glitter, but be careful not to weigh the loops down or the draping effect might be lost.

Want to know about the giveway? Read on...

And now to give some elements of this project away! We all love happy mail, so I'm going to send someone 8 pages and 1 illustration from this vintage French book as well as seam binding in deep green, silvery white and red so you can choose which you would like should you decide to make a paper chain and use the rest for other projects. I also have a page or two of vintage sheet music and vintage Christmas cards & seals to tuck into this little package as well as some recently unearthed Heidi Swapp product that I likely bought more than once (hey, I get excited about cool stuff or some came in a kit).

To be entered into the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post. For another entry, link this post in your blog (but only if you want to share the opportunity with a friend or two!) and include that in your post. My trusty assistant will draw a name from Santa's boot next Friday, December 11th. Bon Chance!

Christmas Inspiration

2009-12-02T08:12:00.000-08:00

Besides helping hubby finish up some shopping for his family, doing the Christmas cards, decorating the house and mailing out packages, I'm feeling pretty ahead of the game this year. ;) Sounds like a lot I know and it is, but compared with the frantic activity of November getting orders & events under control, December feels like a breath of fresh air.

Fresh arctic air. Brrrr, our balmy Autumn has finally decided to bid us adieu.

Here are some fun links for Christmas inspiration should you need it:

One Pretty Thing seeks out the best & brightest of the creative internet world. If you can't find inspiration here, we need to get you some CPR (Creative Pretty Restoration) quick!

Joli Paquet once again offers a vision of Christmas loveliness with new tutorials each Tuesday & Thursday as well as their coveted kits that will be offered tomorrow, Thursday December 3rd. Snap them up while you can. They are wildly popular.

Teresa McFayden is offering her yearly 12 Days of Comfort & Joy e-zine for subscription. Amy Hanna is a special guest artist and several downloads will also be made available throughout the duration of the e-zine. Wherever you see Teresa McFayden, you will see gorgeous ideas abound, so consider checking it out.

I'll be back tomorrow with a super simple tutorial straight from your childhood with a little vintage inspiration thrown in and a blog candy giveaway to complement the tutorial, so check back!

Sqeeeeee, only 22 days til Christmas!

A childhood dream

2009-11-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

Don't laugh, but as a child, my favorite part of Thanksgiving wasn't the turkey or the rolls or even the pie and especially not the football. It was the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I loved the balloons, the bands, the 'stars' that rode on the floats and even the glimpses of an excited crowd. The magic was even more complete when the parade heralded in Christmas with Santa ending the parade.

As an adult (woman) I really resented being stuck in the kitchen cooking while I knew the parade was happening. Sounds selfish, but watching the parade was the Thanksgiving tradition that was special for me.

Usually my sister and I take turns hosting Thanksgiving at each other's homes. We pore over the Thanksgiving issue of Bon Appetit 2 months ahead of time. We review the recipes we've made before that were hits and finally, we plan a huge menu.

This year, we all decided to make a Thanksgiving detour to NYC for the fabled Macy's parade. It took hours of planning via email & phone calls, several hotel changes, tense ticket purchasing decisions and last minute tweaks, but it was all worth it in the end.
We started off our trip with a ride on the Polar Express (Amtrak) from PA to NYC where we were able to relax, stretch out and enjoy the trip rather than the hair-raising rides I've had into NYC via car with hubby at the wheel. We kicked off the trip with a visit to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular before the main event of the parade.

I won't lie, I got all weepy when the first floats and balloons came into view. The crowd is jaw-dropping enormous and excited. It's a party with over 3 million people. We had a great spot on the street thanks to hubby claiming some territory early in the morning. Better weather we couldn't have asked for and seeing the same excitement I have in the eyes of my children and my neices made for more teary moments. My sister and I had our fair share of screaming over the 'stars' we saw on floats, possibly most excited to see several Food Network stars on one float. LOL

And the traditional Thanksgiving dinner? No turkey was consumed, no pie was eaten. We did have a very nice meal at a restaurant not far from the parade route where the total for the meal was probably not much more than the total for groceries we purchase for the yearly Thanksgiving dinner (though hubby refuses to believe it, but he's never done the turkey day/hosting shopping trips alone). And the chief cooks were relaxed & no one had to do dishes. I'm not ashamed to use the cliche that the memories created on this trip were priceless. I hope you and yours were able to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday as well. I am most thankful that my family went along with me on this crazy journey and even in their initial skepticism, fully embracing the magic in the end.

Creatively Fighting Cancer

2009-11-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

My blogging friend Jennifer has started a new Etsy store selling cards, etc to raise money towards fighting cancer.

I'm going to be sending her cards as I can put aside a few minutes to make them. If you would like to help, let me know or Jennifer know and we'll get you the info.

I think there is no question that ALL of us have had the ugliness of cancer touch our lives whether through the suffering of family & friends or through personal experience, but it can't take away our spirit & will to fight, to support one another and to find ways to creatively fight cancer.

Check out the Jennifer's Etsy blinkie to the right and join the fight!

At The Movies

2009-11-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

It seems that nowadays, you have to take out an equity loan to afford a simple night at the theater, right? In my town, it's $10.50 for a ticket. Add in popcorn and soda for another $10 (actually more) plus $10.50 for your date's ticket and you could've adopted a Worldvision child. The kicker is that with the quality (or lack thereof) these days in what Hollywood is churning out, I often walk out wishing I had that two hours of my life back.

Am I alone here? LOL

So, hubby and I don't often go to the movies. When we do we usually like one of the following:
1. Be a must-see on the Big Screen, i.e. movies like Iron Man (actually, I'll go see Robert Downey Jr on any size screen) or Lord of the Rings trilogy or most lately, Paranormal Activity.
2. Be an interesting independent or foreign film (which our town never gets). Comedies & dramas are usually saved until they come out on DVD unless we feel they are super special.
3. Have a movie pass or go to our favorite theater, Majestic Theater in Gettysburg, PA.

The Majestic Theater is almost too good to be true. We keep expecting to show up one night and find it closed. Nestled in downtown historic Gettysburg, the Majestic has converted part of its space into 2 small movie theaters that show independent & foreign films nightly for $7.50. Some seats are love seats. And they have a frequent customer card; buy 6 tickets and your next ticket is free. Can't beat that.

There are several decent places to grab a bite to eat within walking distance. Between the college students, tourists and natives griping about previously mentioned students & tourists, the people watching abounds.

But not all good movies have been Majestic only movies. If I watch a good one, I'm happy to give it a thumbs up.

Movies this year that were worth the ticket (or cable) price?
Bright Star ~ John Keats and Fanny Brawne as told by Jane Campion.
Adam ~with Hugh Dancy. If you enjoyed Lars and the Real Girl, you'll probably like this as well.
Sunshine Cleaning ~I first enjoyed Amy Adams in Junebug. Quirky & gritty, I liked it a lot.
500 Days of Summer ~Ahhh, almost perfect. Tried too hard in a few places, but on the whole about as good as it gets.
Food, Inc. ~Not a fictional film at all, but a thoughtful look at the business of food production. And before you think it's all hate on big biz, they actually paint Walmart (the favorite mega-villian) in a positive light.
Last but not least,
Taking Chance ~ If there were one film on here I'd recommend you watch, it would be this one. A thoughtful portrait into the journey home for a soldier lost in war. Hubby and I cried rivers throughout this one. Kevin Bacon does a powerfully understated performance here.

Whooooo goes there?

2009-10-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

I've had these packages of reproduction Beistle Halloween decorations for a looooooong time. They so neatly stack within the already enormous pile of Halloween postcards, papers, cards, etc that store within a special Halloween bin. And for the past couple of years I keep thinking to myself "Self, those repro Beistle decs would be fun to alter a little bit. Give 'em some oomph, some pizzazz and more importantly, some glitter."

Unfortunately the dark, rainy weather is making for a subpar photograph, but the idea is still there I hope. I started with a basic light cardstock weight owl Halloween decoration. Applied glitters & Ranger stickles liberally to the eyes, moon, branch and various highlight points.

Wait to dry. Eat some of the Halloween candy I'm supposed to be saving for Saturday.

Dedice that's not enough glitter, so choose more highlight points.

Wait to dry. KitKats are toast.

I took a little black glittered star, wired it and threaded it through the owl's perch. Darn, no candy break here. So, I gathered a length of crepe paper and attached it to the back to form a collar for my owl. There's glue there, right?

So, wait to dry. I'd hate to be allergic to peanuts because Reeses are straight from heaven.

Last step is to make a little Trick or Treat banner by cutting it, glittering it and attaching to my owl. Yes, more drying glue!

Wait to dry. Um, must run to store for more Halloween candy, but at least the owl looks good! If I had more candy, I might tackle another sign, but as it is, my waistline, nor my pocketbook needs more repeat episodes. For this year at least. There's always next H-Owl-oween!

Baby Boo

2009-10-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Fall is usually my favorite season, but I haven't been able to throw my energy into it this year. The kids have noticed the distinct lack of Halloween decor & kind of freaked. Did this mean there wasn't going to be any Halloween themed sugar product in the house? What horrors!

So I spent a couple of hours making them a card...

Plain white cardstock, ancient Creative Memories circle cutting system, old Hero Arts stamps (one a Christmas stamp), Distress Inks, embossing powders, old paper, a bit of free hand cutting and the use of an embossing gun to 'burn' the edges of the skull. Not exactly frightful, but he's got a little bit of personality, eh?
Then, I have a couple of fellow Fright Loving Fiends, er, I mean, Friends, who are really into the holiday, so I had to make them something right ?

This card didn't take nearly as long, but I think it is a great deal more macabre than Mr. Skully Card. When hubby and I went to Paris, one of the places we visited was the Paris Catacombs where the remains from several Paris cemeteries were moved, 'artfully' arranged and are now a tourist attraction. The remains of several famous people of the French Revolution are stored in the Catacombs, including, Robespierre and possibly Marie Antoinette.Simple yes, but freaky fun. I used Sepia Glossy Accents to highlight the skulls and brown crackle paint around the edges to convey the dark, dank atmosphere of the catacombs. The glossy accents really make the skulls pop out of the photo.

Hubby and I were recently able to take in a little spirited fun. A couple of weeks ago, we went to an early showing of the movie, Paranormal Activity. I like to be on the edge of my seat for a good scary movie, but not slasher films. This is right up there in my top 3 Fright Flicks ever now. The others being The Changeling with George C. Scott and a toss up between The Ring or The Descent. Check out the trailer for Paranormal here: Paranormal Activity

Go see it and then lose some sleep like I did when hubby went out of town for a few days. You'd never imagine how many things so bump in the night when you're lying wide awake at 2:30 a.m. Bwahahahahaha....

Thank you

2009-10-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know how else to say it, but thank you to for the support, prayers and thoughts. Thank you for sharing your own stories. Thank you for the listening ears, the shoulders and the chocolate whether real or cyber.

We are still at the beginning of a very long journey.

But life goes on. It must.

Don't do sadness

2009-09-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

A little over a week ago, we got the call a parent never wants to hear. My son had tried to harm himself. Thank God he wasn't successful in his attempt and has started to get help, but for now, each day feels as though we are breathing in heavy air. It's an intense labor we have no control over.

Hubby and I are tired. We each handle stress differently, so that is its own struggle.

Our daughters seem okay, but having been through similar situations, I know that 'not okay' is like milk simmering in a saucepan and 'okay' is the thin skin that forms at the top, easily broken.

I usually try to keep the blog on the light side, but in this case, I'd rather have all the prayer and thoughts I can muster for my child and my family rather than pretend that it's all 'okay'.

Makin' Hay While The Sun Shines

2009-08-31T07:36:00.000-07:00

We've all heard the term "making hay while the sun shines". This is a folksy way of saying, you've got to get the work done while you can.

In August, when the garden is bursting, I've got to put in the work with the harvest while it's still going which has meant a very busy few weeks. Before, during and after regular work hours, I've been making tomato sauce, drying tomatoes, churning out pesto, roasting peppers, freezing veggies and more. This is what I get when I innocently plant a modest few plants around Mother's Day; paybacks for my naive ambitions.

But, it's therapeutic work. There's no denying, I've had a summer of the Drama Llama. Lots of situations out of my control, but which still very much effect me and those I love the most. Spending the time outdoors pulling weeds, propping up vines, picking fruit and bringing in the fruits of our labors opens up the mind to think, process and work outside the box.

This has meant precious little time to be artfully inclined in the tiny studio, but I feel no less creative when I'm chopping, stirring or tasting something that's been kissed by the sun and infused with great flavors. It's a different kind of process, but equally satisfying.

So, the tomatoes are still madly producing and the recipes keep coming...

First is one that uses the Tipsy Tomato Sauce as a base for Pizza Sauce. We make a lot of pizza and while some members of the family like less sauce and some like more, we all agree that this sauce is 'just right' for us. My son even took a jar to college with him last week.

Pizza Sauce
1 3/4 C. Tipsy Tomato Sauce
1/2 C. tomato paste
2 small cloves garlic minced
1/2 ts. dried oregano or 1 ts. fresh oregano, chopped
1/2 ts. dried basil or 1 ts. fresh basil, chopped
1 1/2 ts. sugar
1/4 ts. salt

Place all ingredients in a blender and process for 15 seconds or until smooth. If you have them, in the summer use fresh herbs. The fresh basil, most especially, makes a difference in the flavor of the sauce, but dried always works. It's pizza sauce; not the Holy Grail.

Another great recipe is for Grilled Stuffed Tomatoes. This one comes from the tomato recipe collection I talked about with the first tomato recipe post. With some farm fresh corn and whatever protein you throw on the grill, this rounds out a very nice meal with full flavor...

Grilled Stuffed Tomatoes
2 large, firm tomatoes
3 T. dry seasoned bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 ts. fresh basil, chopped (just a leaf or two)
2 ts. fresh parsley
1/4 C. grated mozarella
2 T. butter, softened

Cut the tomatoes in half crosswise. Scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon. Combine the remaining ingredients and pack into the tomato cavities. Place on aluminum foil cute side up and grill for 15-20 minutes or until tomatoes are heated through and the cheese is melted.

~I've changed up the song playlist with some Back to School stuff. Am I imagining or did I feel the first cool, crisp hint of Fall in the air this morning?

Top Chef starting tonight with a hometown favorite!

2009-08-19T09:58:00.001-07:00

So yeah, we're all excited around this area to tune in to see Chef Brian Voltaggio competing on Top Chef this season!

We are blessed with an abundance of fantastic food in downtown Frederick, MD, among the best is Volt Restaurant. Wonderfully fresh, seasonal food from local sources. If you are ever in the area, check it out!

He's competing against his brother, Michael, too! No matter what high drama may ensue, the food at Volt is always a pleasure. If you get the chance, check it out!

And the tomatoes continue to roll in...

2009-08-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

Busy day today, but I do have this simmering on the stove and it smells GOOD!
This is how you get sweet revenge upon a few killer tomatoes...

Tipsy Tomato Sauce

2 large onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1/3 C. olive oil

15 large tomatoes

2 C. red wine

12 oz. tomato paste

1 1/2 ts. salt

1/2 ts. pepper

4 ts. Italian Seasoning (Pizza Magic if you can find it)

Saute the onions, garlic and olive oil until golden, about 10 minutes, in a large pot. Rough chop the tomatoes and add to the pot. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is reduced & thickened to your liking. I keep it simmering for hours until it's super thick and rich.

Freeze in pint jars or keep in refrigerator for 2 weeks.

We use this in so many ways: add a few more spices to create pasta sauce, pizza sauce, add some to soups & stews, make a marinara or use it as is for a mild, richly flavored sauce.

Chalk it up to...

2009-08-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

summer fun!

Every year my daughter and her friend spend a good part of the summer rambling around the neighborhood looking for 'something fun' to do because they are bored. They are old enough now to walk or bike to the library together or head off to McD's, ice cream stand, local market or even the old hardware store, but sometimes, it's the simple things in life that occupy their fancy.

Like a giant tub of sidewalk chalk...

More summer fun is measuring the rate at which one pumpkin vine and a couple of gourd vines are attempting to take over the back yard...Finally, one super early morning while the studio was still cool (there's no AC in there!), I played around for an Opus Gluei challenge...The challenge is called "Book 'em" and while I had visions of Cops, they really meant books! I made a small, hand-bound (sewn) book to send off with my daughter's friend as she goes back to her mom's once school starts. If you're looking for tomato recipes, don't forget to look through the last couple of posts!

Which one is the true gargoyle? 2nd post of the day

2009-08-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

It is appropriate to combine my thanks at being able to travel to Paris with a few photos of one of the most famous houses of worship in the world, Notre Dame. As we walked into the great sanctuary, a children's choir was performing. Their voices filled the air, a perfect welcome to a place I had only dreamed about since I was a child.

What a testimony of faith that those who would begin the cathredral would carry on their life's work and pass away, knowing their vision would not be fulfilled within their lifetime, but knowing the vision was true and worth their sacrifice.

We were able to take a guided English tour throughout the cathredral which greatly expanded our understanding beyond any guidebook or poor interpretation of French signage. I had not comprehended all that had happened within these walls from its inception, to the destruction during the Revolution, to Napoleon being crowned as Emporer by the Pope and beyond.

This window is one of only a few original stained glass windows left in Notre Dame.
You are looking at art that is very nearly a thousand years old. Now picture the course of civilization over the span of a 1000 years that this window has endured... In order to go up to the bell tower and scale the heights of Notre Dame is another trip altogether with an enormous and excruciatingly slow line. Not knowing if I would ever return, I convinced hubbie to wait with me. (in front of us was in Italian family with twins who were fascinated that I have no pinky toenails. my college Italian still tries to hang on, hehehe)

A few hundred steps later, we come to the first level...Great views of Paris beyond...after a hundred or so more steps...the Chimera and Gargoyles I had previously only seen in photos (oh wait, that's the hubbie!) Rubble that has fallen from Notre Dame over the years lying abandoned...The back of Notre Dame, just a thoughtfully designed as the rest of the cathredral, but a photo without the hundreds of tourist (myself among them)...

The Attack of the Cherry Tomatoes, 1st post of the day

2009-08-13T10:15:00.001-07:00

Remember that movie "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes"? I think a young George Clooney may have even been in that movie. It isn't remarkable enough to watch again, but I can stilll remember the song. In fact, it's playing in my head right now!

Well, we are under attack. By cherry tomatoes. Actually they're a super yummy heirloom variety called Brown Berry. I took some to church to give away and people thought there was something wrong with them because when ripe, they are a deep purple-brown. We pop them like M&Ms or dunk them in ranch dressing (cause everything's better with ranch, eh?).

One of my most favoritest (I swear that's a word) summertime recipes uses cherry tomatoes, so whenever possible, you will find me making it, filling a bowl and chowing down. This recipe is addictive in particular if you are an avocado fan or black bean fan too. The colors make this a gorgeous salad. The flavors make the recipe a keeper.

I won't lie. This recipe is directly from Barefoot Contessa At Home book by Ina Garten. I only change it up a few ways. What I love about her recipes is that they are, for the most part, simple and you don't need wonky, exotic ingredients to prepare them.

Without further ado, Guacamole Salad:

2 C. cherry tomatoes, halved

1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced

1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 C. red onion, small diced

2 jalapenos, seeded and minced

1/2 ts. freshly grated lime zest

Juice of 2 limes

1/4 C. good olive oil

1 ts. kosher salt

1/2 ts. freshly ground black pepper

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 ts. cayenne pepper

3 ripe Haas avocados, seeded, peeled and diced

Place tomatoes, peppers, beans, onion and lime zest in a large bowl. Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and cayenne pepper. Pour over the vegetable and toss well.

Fold the avocados into the salad. Check the seasoning and serve at room temps.

(hubby always feels the need to dip tortilla chips into this. I skip the chips completely, going for a bowl, a spoon and a quiet spot to enjoy)

Now, we're getting an attack from some Habanero peppers too. Help! What to do? What to do?

Of tomatoes and unlocked cars...

2009-08-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

First off, I want to send a shout out to the Opus Gluei ladies. They had an enormous blog candy giveaway earlier this summer and I was a lucky winner. When Rosemary delivered this huge box to me, I was blown away. It was a creative Christmas in July bonanza! And being the shopaholic I am, I was surprised to find that with the exception of adhesive and a white pen (which we can never get enough of), all of these goodies were new to me.

Finally I was able to sit down and play with all of this fun stuff and made a sweet card using only goodies from the blog candy stash (except for 2 Stickles colors)...Even the bird stamp, inks and flower punch were in this box. And some of the paper is embossed or blinged ~ Love it! Made the card into a circle by using the old standby Creative Memories circle cutter. After folding my cardstock in half, I cut the circle leaving one side of it over the edge to maintain the crease of the card. Thank you Rosemary and Jana for a most fun collection of artsy crafty inspiration!

Now, about those tomatoes....

We've come to that wonderful time of year, long after the first exciting summer BLT, when we have more tomatoes than meals or time to deal with them. I've yet to start making tomato sauce, but that will be in the works this week. If you have more tomato plants than sense (like me), you may find yourself in a similar predicament. There are 2 ways to handle this; when you go to work, the gym, etc, bring bags of tomatoes and stash them in unlocked cars. One a particularly warm day, the lucky recipients will already have stewed tomatoes for dinner that night. Or get creative with your tomatoes.

I'm trying hard to choose the latter. Long ago and far away when AOL was still a baby, there were super-active gardening boards. I've always enjoyed playing in the dirt and the gardening boards were my first stop each day. We traded tips, stories and in late summer when the harvest overtook us, recipes.

The boards have been long gone since the Plant Nazis chased us out (another story for another day), but the recipes remain. One summer, everyone contributed their favorite tomato recipes which turned into a huge file that had to be emailed to us in 2 installments. That tomato stained file is one of my favorite places to turn to when looking for inspiration. Seeing the names of the contributors also brings back great memories of trading gardening wisdom and anecdotes.

I'll try to post tomato recipes throughout the rest of tomato harvesting season to help anyone else with a kitchen that's been overtaken by the summers bounty a little inspiration.

First up is a recipe for Italian Bread Salad. During the summer, we always seem to have all the ingredients on hand, making this a quick summer treat.

Italian Bread Salad:
2-3 large tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cucumber, diced
1 C. croutons or stale bread cut into squares
1/4 C. feta cheese
4-5 fresh basil leaves, chopped
Balsamic vinegar
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Put the croutons or diced bread in the bottom of a mixing bowl. Place the tomaotes on top of them and gently toss. Add cucumber, feta and basil. Lightly toss. Dress with vinegar and oil to taste. Salt and pepper to taste (the feta and balsamic adds a lot of acidity & saltiness, so start light on the salt). Tastes best if it sits about 15-30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

There are not enough worlds

2009-07-28T15:42:00.000-07:00

to describe Paris. Beautiful, gorgeous, decadent, historic all pale when attempting to distill the essence that is Paris.

Did I love it? Yes, there wasn't enough time. At the same time, I am so glad to be back home with my children, my comfy bed and my friendly potty (and I'm not embarrassed to admit that one).

One small portion of our trip was touring the Opera Garnier. Designed to show the patrons to their best effect rather than the performers; it was a place to see and be seen. It is also where the legend of the Phantom of the Opera began.

Box 5 has been his box for well over a hundred years. You can knock on his door, but you cannot go in. Here is a view of his box from below: The stage of the Opera Garnier is built on a slant, so that your view of the dancer's feet would not be obstructed. Because of this, the training halls were also slanted and dancers from the Opera Garnier were almost unable to dance on a flat surface. A new opera house was built for opera, but the ballets remain here.

Walking through the opera house with its guilded ornamentation, murals, frescoes and statues, I brought that 'feeling' home (certainly not the richness) to create an Opera Garnier inspired Christmas Globe.... Like the Opera Garnier, the globe is a bit careworn, but has not lost its glamour. I applied alcohol inks and metallic mixatives to the back of the globe to give it a hazy, aged appearance and also applied some metallic rubons. The base is a 4 inch tin that could contain a small gift or hold a circular album. The silver present came from Wallyworld and the tiny ornament is vintage. The tin is covered in Basic Grey and vintage lace. The ballerina began life with a blue dress. That was quickly changed with a silver Krylon paint pen. The floor upon which the ballerina stands is cotton batting covered in mica and vintage glitter. Altogether, I hope that come Christmas, I can gaze at the tiny ballerina frozen in her timeless world and remember the Opera Garnier.

A Dream of Paris

2009-07-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to walk the streets of Paris; to sample a decadent pastry, peruse the flea markets, shop the book vendors on the streets and gaze at the iconic images in living color.
Now that dream is coming true and I can scarcely believe it. Many obstacles almost derailed this trip altogether and my long-suffering DH who has lived with a wife who waxes eloquent over the Old World finally consented that the whole idea of France might not be so horrid (though it's not his preferred vacation in the tropics).

And though I'm frantic with packing both of us as well as daughters for their own trip this next week, I'm starting to feel a frisson of excitement. Thank heavens for Marriott points, frequent flyer miles and spare change jars. They really DO add up!

To help me get in the mood, I put a little France inspired playlist here, even including a BowWowWow song from the movie, "Marie Antoinette". Au Revoir Mes Amis! (my 3 years of French are rustier than an old garden gate)

Kickin' It Old School

2009-07-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

Chic, that is.

Did anyone else ever get excited about going school supply shopping? There was nothing like finding the cutest new pencil box to store your freshly sharpened pencils, colorful chunky erasers and your red marking pen. I still remember having a tub of paste glue that Bobbie G. ate when I was in Kindergarten. To be fair, it did smell good, but dude, eat your own paste! One year I was incredibly lucky to talk my mom into buying me a Trapper Keeper. The multitudes of hidden pockets, doo-dads and thingamajigs on a Trapper Keeper made me oh, so happy.

Going to auctions, DH and I always bid on the box lots of old office supplies too. Even the packaging for those old goodies was cool. Boxes that slide open to reveal red colored pencils, bottles of ink, old letter openers, fountain pens, graph paper notebooks; yum, yum, office fun!

I think this is why I will always be drawn to playing with paper, pencils, inks and glues. The memories of tactile work. I'll admit that I still get a little thrilled when the shelves at stores fill up with new school supplies. I'll even buy a few new folders and pencils to feed my habit.

Having lots of school, office and art supplies means I always have a lot of scraps. The following little project I learned years ago from a Club Scrap retreat. At the time my friends and I thought it was so cool, but I never used the knowledge again until I was face with bulging folders of paper scraps that I hated to throw out. Hence, my uptake on this notepad project:

I pulled together paper scraps, scrap cardboard, office clips, a foam brush, Club Scrap Bookbinding glue (you could probably use K&Co craft glue or another bookbinding glue), assorted stamps and Ranger Distress Ink (both stamps and ink optional)

1. First you need your paper scraps. For mine I cut scraps of script and ledger paper into 3x5 inch rectangles. I also cut scrap cardboard into a 3x5 rectangle to use as a backing for my notepad.

2. If you desire, you can stamp images on your papers. It's totally up to you. I used a few unmounted stamps from Studio Calico. This is also a great opportunity to use up odds & ends of old rub-ons.

3. Stack your cut paper rectangles and cardboard rectangle. I mixed several different patterns. Clip together at the top to hold. Apply the bookbinding glue to the top of your notepad with a foam brush, being careful not to oversaturate the paper, but also to get a nice even coating on top of your notebook stack.

Set aside to dry for a few hours. The bottle says 24 hours. I don't have that kind of patience. I keep going back to check, recheck and fiddle with it. Really, mine was dry in a few hours.

The completed notepad...

with lots of different patterns and designs...

I made a little tag from pink ledger paper, an old flower and some seam binding to tie it all up. Maybe it will be a little gift or the start of favors for a party or just sit pretty on my shelf for now. Quick, easy and fun upcycling. Now I'm wanting to try making pale floral notepads, funky graphic notepads and more.

I made this card as part of the "How Does Your Garden Grow" challenge for Opus Gluei and yes, I am late once again! One of these days I won't feel like I'm a day late and a dollar short. The notepad project came about after making this card using all scraps from my scrap folders. That scrap folder keeps generating lots of small projects it seems.

Patriotic Playlist

2009-06-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you have your speakers on when you are reading my blog, but I have a playlist at the bottom that sometimes changes with the seasons. This week, I put together a few patriotic songs to kick off a week of celebrating our Independence Day.

Country Living has lots of fun craft ideas that would be great for 4th of July celebrations. Joli Paquet has posted a lovely new tutorial on their blog and I hope to post an Old School Chic project this week with a Christmas in July (yikes, I know! LOL) project on the way soon.

Enjoy the music and I'd love to know what your favorite patriotic tunes are!

And so begins a new beginning

2009-06-23T13:46:00.001-07:00

I won't apologize for being busy because it's been with celebrating a new graduate and she is worth the time. We were so happy for her; no tears here and none from her either. Her face had a gorgeous smile on it the entire time as did ours.

And this past weekend she attended her Freshman Orientation at her new school, Mount St. Mary's ~the same school her older brother attends. (see the 2 Mounties below!) She and several hundred other Freshmen went in nervously, but by the end of the weekend, she had already found several new best friends and lined up 2 roomies for the Fall semester. While I'm an introvert, she's a social butterfly. I already predict her becoming active in about a zillion clubs, causes and crews.

Tomorrow, we leave for the Creation Festival in Mount Union, PA if the antibiotics start to kick in from whatever she picked up at orientation.

Be back on Sunday to take a breather, catch up on some serious blog love and hopefully have some time to sequester myself to just create.

If my studio had a door, I'd lock myself in, bwahaha

2009-06-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

Because I really enjoy the creative therapy of pulling out pretty little embellishments, doodling sketches in my idea book, flipping through stacks of old photos and fondling the paper (oh yes, as in skin to paper contact).

After a couple of high drama weeks in our lives (but not my daughter's graduation. That was a complete and glorious time of celebration!), I needed the time. Desperately. In fact, my mind & spirit still needs time, but they're going to have to take a rain check.

First, I checked out Opus Gluei 's latest challenge which is Sand and Shells. I'm doubly glad they've had a run of challenges which work so well with vacation photos because 1)it gets me off my duff about documenting the trip and 2)I'm loving flipping through the photos with the kids while we are all dying to get back to somewhere tropical. This layout is of my hottie DH who was hamming it up for the camera in front of a waterfall. He didn't think I was really taking photos, but how could I resist snapping away while he continued to strike poses much to the mortification of his daughters?
While I'm talking about the DH, we had a text discussion about Father's Day cards and he jokingly requested a 'pink one'. Never kid a kidder darling. Especially one who loves pink! This is what he's getting (snicker, snicker):
Lots of Heidi Swapp, Teresa Collins, K&Co, MM, old Imagination Project and vintage dyed seam binding. Broke out the Silver Leafing pen too; I need about 6 more of those to fill my shiny quota.
For my Daddy and Papa though, I didn't think they'd quite appreciate pink in the same way my DH (who is totally comfortable with his feminine side, i.e. Me) would, so I went manly man for their cards. I got to break out some old school techniques with Ranger Distress Inks, a water sprayer and an iron, plus play with Glimmer Mist and tools from Tattered Angels. The Club Scrap electrical tape is still a favorite of mine not only for embellishing, but for binding books.

I'm also sending on this Thank You note to friends who showed DH and I the greatest measure of grace and continue to love us during a rough time. Good friends are worth their weight in gold, but these folks are among the best of the best! I find myself more and more drawn to sunny, cheerful orange tones. Don't think I'll be brave enough to splash it on a wall anytime soon, but the small doses in projects are perfect.

The Flat Screened Elephant In The Room

2009-06-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

Mid-summer last year, I was innocently shopping with my oldest son, when he stops me short in the middle of the aisle in my local discount superwarehouse. He had spotted several HDTVs being put on clearance as former display models. Since he is our resident expert in all things digital, technical, loud and visual; I had asked him to be on the lookout for a 27-32" tv (or so) since ours was over 20 years old and dying. That was about what would fit in our current tv cabinet. We didn't watch that much television, but the thought of being without completely brought stress frowns from the whole family (except DH who watches NO tv{I know! Freaky, eh?}. Me, I need to destress my brain every once in a while with some Food Network or HGTV or my late, beloved Pushing Daisies).

After much discussion on the cell phone with DH while he checks reviews on consumer websites and my son's wild gestures as people begin to snap these televisions up, I finally decided on a model that was much larger than I had planned on, paid the piper and toted it home.

Once home though, the men in the family wanted to flip our dining room and living room, thus creating a manly, dark entertainment Man Cave to better showcase the television. Plus, our living room was all windows which worried DH that robbers would see us watching Barefoot Contessa, get greedy and make off with our new toy some night when we're out. After initial resistance on my part, I relented and my son helped me flip the rooms.

Two ginormous sofas crowd the space. I had petitioned for a love seat or two chairs when we got our sofas, but DH felt the more butt-space, the better. Well, we have plenty of butt space, but not much room to scoot your bootie around the furniture. I also had to jettison my round coffee table since it was way too big for the room and made the traffic flow even more miserable. Fortunately, the coffee table had been a $5 buy from Goodwill which we painted and when I dropped it off to donate it back, I picked up a $3 rectangular coffee table with good lines which we then painted.

But, still, we live in an old house. Most of our household furniture and decor reflects a vintage style. Suddenly we had this bohemoth television glaring at us like Mork if he had landed at Laura Ingall's house. Sure, we loved feeling like we were in our own little movie theater, but it looked weirdly disjointed.

The question was how to tie the television in with the rest of the house. Instead of disguising it behind closed doors or turning our living room ultra modern, I tried to strike a balance that would pull together in a cohesive, pleasing layout.

I'm liking it so far. Not sure I'm finished, but the living room seems more settled and finished for now.
I picked up some prints at Chartreuse and Co. for $1.00 each that had at some point been publicity posters for a theater in the '60s. We also had an old frame lying about and another larger one from we'd picked up from Goodwill. I get mercilessly teased about painting everything white, but since I was trying to meld a super modern tv and a super old house, I went with glossy black and metallic silver paint for the frames. The paint updated them; one old, the other newer, but plain. I had picked up an oval mirror at Target several months back and had hoped to work it into the plan. Whaddya know, it worked!
I order the bejeweled chandelier and frame wall decals from House of Three. These are super easy to work with and a great bargain compared to similar wall decals from various suppliers & companies.
The cabinet the television sits upon was originally our dining room sideboard. It's been pressed into service for the cable box, game systems (yes, plural) and dusty fitness equipment. In an ideal world, it would be painted, but we haven't gotten there yet. Baby steps.

The grand total for the wall decorations was less than $50, but the visual impact really helps the television to blend into our vintage decor as well as keeping the vintage style of our home from being too precious.
This little composition notebook was done for a challenge at Opus Gluei which was at least 2 weeks ago. I've been swallowed up by graduation activities and company, so I'm running behind. The challenge was to work with colors that put you off or what you wouldn't ordinarily work with. I like purple okay, but it's nowhere in my house or clothes or art. Maybe it's the years of being forced to wear purple & gold for school colors. The purple paper from Basic Grey's Lucky line is a bit masculine when paired with the rest of the Lucky line, but I tried to girl it up with scallops, silver leafing, sparkly stuff (who can resist shiny?). The "B" monogram stands for a certain graduate. Not my own, but a friend of the family. I'll give it to her this weekend at a grad party. If I don't decide I like the purple-yellow combo so much that I keep it to my greedy little self!

Life is not a dramedy sometimes

2009-05-31T13:52:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, I try to keep the blog light; satisfying, but less filling. This past week has some of the heavy stuff in it though.

My youngest daughter had a friend pass away after a courageous, lifelong battle with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 13. In early elementary school, they were thick as thieves until his illness meant he had to be tutored from home. He lost his father in a car accident at 7 years old. Life can be hard, but Austin faced every day with a sunny attitude and a lot of moxie. We've cried a lot in the past few days. It's been hard.

Other conflicts and dramas have brought many tears the past week, but none like this.

Austin, you were loved. You lived every moment as if it were your last. You were wise beyond your years and gracious beyond comprehension. You will be missed.

Not So Dumb and Dumber

2009-05-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

Last week I was lucky enough to tag along on a trip to NYC with my sister. (Note to all: if someone offers you a bed in NYC for a few days, don't think, just go! 'Specially if you're an artsy fartsy type)

Anyway, my sis called wondering why photos of our big night out on the town weren't already posted on the blog. To be honest, it was a pretty special night. We had goofy grins pasted on our faces the entire way back to our hotel room. But..... the whole trip was a lot of fun. Much needed recharging for the challenges back home.

Took the train into town on Sunday when we met at the hotel...I was starving, so we headed to John's Pizzeria, a tradition....then we headed to Soho to see Sunshine Cleaning (nice, quirky film) at the tiniest little theater that reminded us of a theater we went to as kids (all that was lacking was a jar of pickles and a machine that dispensed Dixie cups of syrupy soda for $.25)....

The next day, I stopped by Tinsel Trading which was mobbed because there was a stationery show in town, but this was the first time I had been to their new location and I still managed to come away with a fun bag of goodies....I also had to go ride all the wooden escalators at Macy's....and spend some quality time in a huge Sephora....then peruse all the beading and trim shops in the fashion district....

But what sis and I couldn't stop smiling about was for later that evening! We had hemmed and hawed over shows; never got around to finally choosing until it was a late hour indeed. Just a few days before we were to meet, I saw that Jeff Daniels (who is also doing a play on Broadway called Gods of Carnage, Tony nominated) was doing a small concert at City Winery. I checked the website thinking surely it'd be sold out, but lo and behold there were still choice seats. After some consulting together, we went for it.

After a nice dinner at a small treasure called Bruschetteria (great panini, yum), we made our way to City Winery where we were escorted to a table that was a mere few feet from the stage. At that point, before we had any wine, we started to get a bit giddy. I know, some of you are thinking "why are they getting worked up over Jeff Daniels?", but you've got to remember from my old blog the time I stumbled all over myself when walking down the street with Richard Thomas of The Waltons fame. And I've always liked Jeff Daniels, just have. Sis and I shared some City Winery vino and desserts while we waited for the show to start.

I will say this, if you get the chance to see this man doing a small show anywhere you can get to, sign up immediately. Not only is he a fine actor, he has a fine voice, plays a sweet guitar and writes all of his own music; much of which will make you either laugh hysterically or have you crying into your hankie. And witty, gracious, good humored. We were entertained, charmed and touched.

What moved us the most though was when he told us about how critics have asked him if regrets doing Dumb and Dumber. He likes to tell this story...

As a public figure, sometimes when you're in the DC area, the USO might call you to ask if you'll visit Walter Reed Hospital to spend time with wounded soldiers. Mr. Daniels told us how you'd see young people with various wounds, not quite knowing what hit them, just kids really and to the last one, all they want to hear about is Dumb and Dumber. They want him to quote lines from the movie, ham it up, talk about it, makes them smile and laugh. So, whenever a critic asks if he regrets doing Dumb and Dumber, he'll reply, that no, he has no regrets, but feels honored to be a part of something that can bring joy into the darkness.

Everything after that was the frosting on top of the cake. The next day I went to the Gagosian Gallery where there was an exhibit of many of Pablo Picasso's works and sketches from later in his life. I'm not an art major, but the tone of the exhibit was interesting with the hushed reverence of those walking throughout the gallery. I'd like to read and study more on him now that I've seen these works. His bold brushstrokes, copious use of thick layers of paints and even use of different substrates has me interested, but not reverent. I want to understand why he rose to such prominence while still living; what magic he seemed to possess.

After Picasso, I wondered over to Greenwich Village because that's where I'd live in my imaginary Bohemian city life (my real life is Mayberry-like small town Aunt Bea more often than not complete with my own Barney Fife personality). Spent way too much time and money on cool little things in cool little stores and caught back up with sis later in the evening for more yummy NYC pizza at Lombardi's. To finish up our last night in the Big Apple we caught up with the Dessert Truck where we got our Goat Cheese Cake to go and hustled back to our hotel room to watch the American Idol finale in our pajamas. Another lovely few days of adventure with my sister. Now when do we go again???? I'm ready!

Today I am thankful

2009-05-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

for those who have given everything for my freedom.

The Final Salute

Walkersville Day with an Opus

2009-05-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to get to squire Miss Rosemary, one of the Opus Gluei ladies, around my tiny town last Saturday for the annual Walkersville Day when the entire town is full of yard sales, garage sales, church yard sales, church festivals and more.

The weather cooperated and the town did too. We had a blast, particularly scoring at the local Church of Christ sale where we giggled like mad school girls as we read passages from Cherry Ames nursing books (Oh Cherry!), an old Nancy Drew cookbook (the recipe titles were worth the $.50) and a medical shorthand study book where, yes, sometimes the shorthand resembled the body part IYKWIM!

Rosemary was also able to see that I'm not telling tall tales when I say our mayor owns the local one room (tiny) feedstore down the street where he sits on the front porch in his flannel shirt watching his townspeople go by. And my youngest can't stop talking about Miss Rosemary (to a 13 year old, that's high praise). The Lutheran church had the best baked goods. All my attempts to 'be good' flew out the window when I bit into a moist, chewy 7-layer bar. This was a 'who needs a man' snack. Yes, they were really that special. We didn't know what to think of the Lemon Chocolate Chip cookies though. What do you think about that now Rosemary?

I figured I'd better send an entry for the Order of the Opus Gluei challenge over their way, so I worked on the Getaway theme by finally beginning work on the trip that we took to Hawaii with our kids 2 years ago. You know what's wild? I still had loads of paper to use left over from the scrapbook for a trip that the better half and I took to Hawaii 4 years ago along with a giant stack of tropical travel themed embellishments! Even wilder, it's still cool paper.

For this one I finally used these Meri Meri flipflops that I'd been saving for some crazy reason. Getting these three clowns to take a photo together is like nailing Jello to a tree. Here, they were worn out from snorkeling, walking and hiking through lava fields or rainforest, so I was finally able to catch them unaware.

For the 2nd layout, I opened up a package of Lil Davis bottle caps that I tried to sell in a scrap/stamp yard sale a couple of years ago. When I was cleaning off some shelves, I rediscovered them hiding in a box. Whaddya know, they are still perfectly cool, plus I was able to dust off some old Heidi Swapp tape and plastic alphabet letters.

These completed pages should make me feel good to get started on the trip scrapbook, right? Somehow that giant stack of photos that are still lying on the counter seem to be laughing mockingly at me. They will be done. Eventually. For now, it's past 5p.m. and the weekend is starting. Where's my martini shaker?

Still sliding into homebase....

2009-05-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

That's what it's felt like since I came home from a trip to North Carolina. A entire weekend full of girlfriend fun with creative minds who 'get' it. With a side of BBQ sauce. wink, wink

Once I came home, I was set upon by children with these odd demands for food, laundry, signing of stacks of school papers, shopping for birthday party gifts, bat mitzvah gifts, graduation gifts, who knows what else gifts. And that's just the kids. The hubbie and I passed like 2 ships in the night as he left town for a business trip making me a single parent.

When he's out of town, the whole house kind of goes whackadoodle. I don't have to cook and I'm happy to heat up frozen pizzas, call for takeout or if I'm feeling ambitious, make quesadillas or omelets. We stay up way too late and watch all the chick flicks he can't stand. You'd think it was heaven until the garbage disposal stops working or your teenager is getting on your last nerve or he's not home to be big spoon to my little spoon. We do miss him loads.

I did get some cute surprises for Mother's Day from my posse. My son bought me a cute sign that's already hanging in the kitchen. Totally fits me. He also bought me dinner', yummy. My youngest thoroughly outdid herself. Usually I'm a fan of the old ways, the old stuff, the school of thought that says they don't make it like they used to. Only when it comes to creativity, she is such an improvement over me. Check out this cool card she made me, complete with pop ups, flaps and lots of little interactive elements: And here is my much belated project using something floral for the Order of the Opus Gluei . I filled it with puppy treats for our neighbors who just got the cutiest, patootiest little puppers. Seriously, it's priceless to watch the big bear of a hubbie walking this bit of fluff. I've made several things with these bridal flower cones; none of which serve their intended purpose to hold flower petals. And holy sweet patooties, this girl is graduating in less than 3 weeks! I'm exhausted and it's not even officially here yet (not really Mom, so don't back out). Don't shoot me, but between you and me, I hate those formal grad photos that don't even look like the young people you've watched grow up. They're stiff, starchy and fake looking (to me). I want to remember these kids as they are, rather than how some overpriced(picture me cursing like a sailor upon spying the price lists), underwhelming photography company tries to pawn off on me.

Somewhere there are photos waiting to haunt me from my own Senior year. My mom was set upon me having my photo with of those dyed feathery whatnots. A baby bathroom blue one. They looked really cute on girls in the 60s who had the whole Aquanet hairstyle going on, but I was an 80s girl; my hair and makeup did not suit. At all. Picture a cross between Big Hair Band, Punk and dead blue feathers. Wasn't pretty. My Nana still has that photo on display along with all my cousins who have perfectly normal graduation photos. As in tuxes or formals. Better than the Big Blue Bimbette photos though!

In the spirit of my daughter's fun loving nature, we took several not so serious poses. This is my real girl; informally irreverent and happy to launch into the world.

Blossoming (& Opus Gluei candy!)

2009-04-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

Cuteness abounds! At least in my tiny studio, in my tiny opinion!

A lot of my creativity comes by way of the laundry room. You see, my studio is in the basement with the laundry room. To get to the laundry room, you have to walk through my studio. If you know me, you know I detest (ew, blech, phooey) laundry. Therefore, I am often happily waylaid on the way to do laundry when my eyes alight upon some pretty papers or supplies. I can also rationalize that this is why I leave everything scattered about willy nilly, so that my eyes can alight quite often and it gets me a temporary reprieve from the dreaded laundry.

These cards happened on just such a waylaid laundry expedition. Most of the paper is from an 'older than Methuselah' line made by SEI. I can't remember the name, but with a full laundry basket, my eye was caught by the riveting beauty of these papers that I had moved the day before and never put away (don't tell mama). For the first card though, I actually used yellow ledger paper as the base. I liked that so much, I made a few more cards that way, but they've already gone in the mail. Now I'm looking around to see what else I can use for card bases. Oh heck, anything to get me out of laundry!

This is that fun, fast project I hinted about: If, perchance, you actually do have some old Easter Egg dye kits and a bunch of white ribbon hanging about, run out to buy the current issue of Somerset Life Seriously, in about 5 minutes time investment, you will have the most lovely, crinkly, soft-washed ribbon and quickly fall in love. Luckily hubby was out of town while I started playing with this because he couldn't question why the counters were filled with mugs full of wadded up ribbon or why there was another package from Ebay when I ordered loads more seam binding.

If you don't have any Easter Egg dye kits, I saw my local grocery store still had some and they were 75% off! (they also had Lindt chocolate bunnies at 75% off. do you know how many times I pushed my cart past that table? I had to keep saying the Serenity Prayer to myself to hold off from mass Bunnicide. I think I left nail marks in the cart handle. even now I hear them calling to me)

Speaking of candy, the Opus Gluei Poobahs have a huge blog candy giveaway in the works! Seriously huge. Huge! You must go over there post haste to check it out. I will do everything in my power to sweet talk them into just giving it all to me, but don't say I never offered to share. Head on over to take a gander: Order of the Opus Gluei

Great Googly Moogly!

2009-04-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

I am an affirmed procrastinator, but even I am ashamed that this blog has been getting dusty. My nose is now all stuffed up from trying to clear out these cobwebs!

My internet issues are mostly solved except for the random times it will just stop completely. Then I stomp, yell, kick the can and throw a fit in general. Never fixes the internet, but it surely does make me feel better to indulge in a temporary tantrum.

I have taken some photos, but have yet to upload them. One is a particularly fun, quick and addictive creative play project! Especially if you bought Easter Egg dye kits on clearance after Easter.

In the meantime, can I tell you that I don't know how, but I have gorgeous, gift children! They didn't get it from me.

My older daughter is getting ready to graduate from high school in several weeks. Of course, that means major household projects (this time an upstairs bathroom). It's the price of living in an old home: endless labors of love. Also, major reorganization and planning. The Senior graduation machine is already running at high speed. We have a whole calendar of events and dates sent from the school.

This past weekend was Prom. Ah, my baby is gor-gee-ous! Seriously, I should've just locked her up at 13, right?

This is the younger daughter long jumping last year at Nationals. (The photo was taken by a pro since we weren't allowed on the field.) Now is the season of endless track meets. It's also a season where she's among the youngest in her age group, so she's being challenged in a way that's new to her. Good for her. Mom needs a martini though while she's watching! The kid leaps over the sand pit like a gazelle. When I jump, I look like a drunken glob of flubber.

Twitterpated yet?

2009-04-10T04:43:00.000-07:00

(yes, the internet is still doing it's own thing. a tech was supposed to come yesterday, but never showed. hmmph)

Every year I have a little argument with myself over which season I love the most: Spring or Fall. I've decided that I love the one I'm with and that means Spring is my current love. Normally, when I'm doing a walkabout in the yard surveying the estate (bwahahaha), I try to maintain a certain ladylike state of decorum. Considering the events that unfolded last week in my back yard though (see previous post), I felt quite free to do a completely undignified happy dance when I noticed the first stalks of yummy, tender asparagus peeking through the ground. (me, happy dance, not a pretty picture, keep it out of your head, lest your retinas be seared for life)

The little lettuce bed also got similar love as did the ripening buds on the numerous lilac bushes. I love Spring!

I even love the birds coming back home with their twittering birdsong and fun banter. What I don't love is that they start singing at the top of their lungs next to MY windows looooooooong before the sun comes up.

This is the reason I am typing this out far earlier than God intended for anyone to actually arise and greet the day.

I am also reminded that as soon as we put the air conditioners in for the summer (we live in an oooooold house with no central air), they will promptly begin building nests in the tiny spaces to each side of the AC. Each year I am torn between letting them nest or letting my hubby knock the nests from their hidden perches.(before eggs. I'm not a baby birdie hater) If their nests are allowed to continue, we are guaranteed several tiny little voices raised in chorus as Mama Bird feeds her flock. To these birds, I have to ask, what is wrong with using the neighboring home windows instead of ours????

Just one tiny project to show before I go and who knows if that will upload because of this infernal internet. I have to say that at the moment, my tiny studio is an official disaster area. I even walked in there yesterday only to walk out and ask my hubby why he had let the lady who used that room trash it so thoroughly. "Creative chaos?" He tentatively answered. Good man, good man.

I made these cards before I remembered the Post Office has gotten power crazy with what you can send out without incurring extra postage. Luckily, these passed the 'fit through the teensie slot' test, thus requiring no more stampage. I don't even know how old this My Mind's Eye paper is. What I do know is that it is majorly cute and has been hiding from me because if I had known of it's cuteness before, it would've been long gone. And I continue my erstwhile addiction to scallops. I can't seem to do anything without throwing a scallop into it lately! I loved the little vintage look of these seed packets and at $.20 each, they were a bargain embellishment and little giftie for these Easter cards. Plenty of room to write behind the seeds.

Have a wonderful and glorious Easter!

Walk over to your pantry

2009-04-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

and get out a jar of molasses. Remove lid and attempt to pour onto anything. That is how slow my internet is working lately. I feel like I'm back in the bad old days of typing in a web address, going off to make a sandwich and coming back to the computer to find the page still loading! I desperately need to tie my IT guy (hubbalicious) down and have him solve this problem. Unfortunately, he's crazy busy with his own work and I continue to swim in a molasses slow pool of internet ooze.

I'm trying to visit my blogging friends, but the internet is letting it happen at the rate of about one comment per hour at the moment. Cross your fingers and knock on hard drives that this problem is over soon.

Contrary to popular reports, I am not dead nor have I disappeared. I did survive the weekend with all the teenagers and it was a fabulous time for all involved. No big mama dramas and only one mild case of poison ivy. How the poison ivy happened shall remain a secret to the grave!

So, I was feeling all warm, cozy and smug once I came home last Sunday night about a successful trip. Hubby had already turned around to fly out of state for business. I tried to get to sleep, but my internal clock had been thrown off and I found myself reading a book late into the night. At around midnight, I hear an extremely loud truck pull up in front of my home. My hubby-less Spidey senses went on the alert, so of course, I had to check it out. I peered out my window to see two men creeping around the side of the house and through my yard. About that time, I was torn between calling 911 or scolding Jack, the huge guard dog, for not rushing to my side. He was too busy snoring and chasing rabbits in his dreams.

Before I could do either, I hear a loud voice yell "Stop! Get down on the ground and put your hands behind your back!" Um, okay, were you talking to me?

I start looking out all my windows and finally discover the source of the voice. It was a State Trooper who had the 2 men down in the middle of the street behind my house with a gun pointed in their direction. Within 2 minutes, 5 more cars had pulled up.

Of course, being a good citizen, I start to scope out where best to see, but not be seen. I finally decided that perched atop the toilet in the powder room gave me the best view as I opened the window a touch. (It also afforded me easy access should nature call amidst this mini-episode of Cops) Over the next 30 minutes or so, it wasn't nearly as exciting as I had hoped it might be. Turns out it was a family dispute over cars and dogs.

What was of note, was the mug shot of one of the men they arrested. I couldn't appreciate him fully on Sunday night because he was wearing a sock hat, but the mug shot photo is priceless. So priceless it made the nation's largest celebrity blog. I kid you not!

Here's a short article in the local paper: The Frederick News-Post Online - Frederick County Maryland Daily Newspaper and here is the blurb on Perez Hilton's website: Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez Hilto

You can't MAKE this stuff up! I just know you all now believe I live in Hooterville or something, but really, I love my litte town right down to the mayor who owns the tiniest of feed stores down the street.

The week went downhill from there with my daughter passing on a lovely stomach virus (and no, I didn't lose any weight, darn it). What's the use of lying about feeling though you will die with the next heave without a little sickness loss? I wasn't quite over that when I helped chaperone a field trip to the Maryland Science Center where 2 of my 6 young charges thought the rule to stay in your group was a mere suggestion.

And the cherry to top this cake walk of a week was on Friday when it was raining heavily, I slippped like a banana peel down our porch steps spraining my ankle and bruising the entire right side of my body in strange step patterns. My ego was nearly as bruised as my back.

Can we all quote Scarlet when we exclaim with hope that "Tomorrow is another day!"?

P.S. Please cross your fingers that my internet decides to cooperate soon and that this entry actually posts!

Payback Time has drawn nigh....

2009-03-27T04:39:00.000-07:00

This is a quick interruption of the Granny Panty blog for me to officially apologize to my parents for all the grief, angst and agony I caused you in my adolescent years. Yes, true to your wishes, I am getting my pay back. Little did I realize that the problems of the Terrible Twos, Troublesome Threes and the first time they got a D on a spelling test were such small potatoes compared to the Trauma Filled Teen years.

What the teens fail to realize is that when their heart breaks, our heart breaks. And we've been dealing with two very different teens with two very different heart issues, but one thing is common. It hurts.

Now back to our regular programming....chic Book reviews is a new blog that my friend Amy has started. If you love to read, check it out. She's kicking it off by doing a giveaway on April 1st! Me? I'm a super fan of Chick Lit and the not so guilty pleasure reading. Most of the time, my nose is in a book geared towards working with children, so when I read for pleasure, I do not tend to go for the downer, depressing or deep inwardly thinking tome. I read for sheer fun. Amy's new book blog looks like it will be sheer fun, so I can't wait to visit regularly!

What tends to tempt me to pick up a book to read? Well, a pink or seafoam green cover of course! Seriously, if it is pretty, I pick it up. If the teasers on the back and inside covers are light & witty, I flip through it. If what I read makes me smile, laugh or nod my head in agreeable recognition, I may carry it up to the check-out counter (with my coupon of course). This is my confession, when it comes to reading I am brazenly simple and I like it that way!

Oddly enough, after 2 weeks of heartbreak with my own teens, I'm about to head for a conference with almost 30 more. Pray for me. No seriously, pray for me and them and all the other adults going. You know where there are 2 or more girls gathered together, there will be drama. That is not what this weekend is supposed to be about and I don't want dramas to overshadow what should (if all goes according to plan and prayer) be an amazing weekend they will always remember. Where there are 2 or more guys gathered together, there is a large possibility for a trip to the emergency room. I really don't want some bone-headed big puppy of a teen boy knocking himself silly and sitting in the ER for hours.

If I'm still alive on Monday morning, my plan is to have a majorly huge cappucino in hand and spend time visiting every single lovely blog I haven't been able to spend time at because I've been nursing wounded hearts and wringing my hands at my inability to make it all better.

Until then, playing with art supplies is always good therapy. I highly recommend it. This is some of my Prozac:

Everything is still being pulled from my copious stash, but I confess I totally broke the no-buy with a little of Jenni Bowlin's new designs and pretty much ALL of Heidi Swapp's new product. My defense? It was perty? Really though, their stuff tends to cross so many applications and isn't pigeon-holed into only one type of genre. And truly, I love gazing at the new lovelies and whiffing off that little adrenaline rush of retail therapy.

Not sure why the next 2 pics turned out blurry. They didn't seem that way earlier, but since I'm about to pack and run, I'm sorry I don't have time to fix them. You see those stickers down below? Every month, when I get my Lucky (or Domino) magazine, those stickers are there for you to mark your favorites. They are just too, too cute. Too cute, not to use them for a card or two. I'm so sad that Domino is going, going, gone now. They had some of the best color combos for their little stickers.
This photo album was inspired by a tutorial on the Joli Paquet blog. Instead of paper though, I used some old feedsack fabric, seam binding and a vintage flower. Ssimple, but so fun to do. Check out the Joli Paquet blog and scroll down for the original tutorial, then have fun creating your own little albums! I've since made more of these and will probably save them for Mother's Day little gifties.

Pillow fight anyone?

2009-03-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

It's Slumber Party time over at For the love of vintage... otherwise known as Shabby In The City! Happy Happy Birthday my friend! Head over there for links to see other party goers.

Let's jump on the bed. I promise Mom will never find out!

This morning was chilly. Good thing I had an extra blanket on hand...
Forgot your sleeping bag? No problem. We've got loads of extra blankets, quilts and pillows to share...

I am such a pushover for cute pajamas. Nick and Nora are a particular weakness of mine...And bedtime just wouldn't be the same without a little Chick-Lit to cozy up for a sweet snooze...
In the morning, we'll have cappucinos and relive the memories.

Seriously, slumber parties take me back. Oh, my daughters have had several parties of their own, but the things I did as a child, you could never do with kids today. Completely un-PC! Ah, fond memories of seances with a trip to an actual cemetery at midnight (we were in 6th grade!:P), going to Dairy Queen to order 1 ice cream cone with 10 spoons to share, prank phone calls (no can do with caller id today), dressing up as preggie cheerleaders to terrorize the local Sonic (my dad proudly drove us all there), running naked through the sprinklers in the back yard and more. Good times, good times.

My Stimulus Package and a Rule(r) to live by

2009-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

(I know, 2 posts in 1 day! Crazy, right?)

Doesn't include tax breaks, incentives or a free coffee from Dunkin Donuts. It does include yummy fun that I couldn't pass up when I was out shopping with Rosemary.

I came home with this sweet, chippy, swirly frame and turned it into a bulletin board. Sorry about the shadowy light. My studio is in my basement, hence, no natural light, just OTTs & an old chandelier and this baby is too big to lug upstairs and photograph (before I've had copious amounts of caffeine).

The 'Bloom' banner is keeping it company. I saw the cute 'Spring' banners on House of 3 and decided to improvise my own with some Heidi Swapp stash I'd been hoarding. I think it was hiding behind a family size bag of Cadbury mini eggs. Ate those yummies and voila, I saw a whole new stash! Cut the circles for it with my old friend, a CM circle cutter. That was probably one of the first purchases that sucked me into scrapbooking.

Here is the rest of my stimulus package. Most all of it has found a home, but I've yet to hang up the green shelf. Isn't there something like this in most of our grandmother's bathrooms? They usually aren't painted a bright lime green though. Can't wait to hang this in the studio and overrun it with goodies. I also loved the silvery, dove grey of this hat. I have a huge head. HUGE. Hats never fit me. This one worked. And it's vintage. And perty. So I adopted it. It was meant to be. I also brought home sparklies that were labeled 'Table Confetti'. Hmmmph, right. Sozo, the princess cat, would eat that confetti straight away and while it my be a shinier job to clean the litter box for the next few weeks, I can see these faux gems getting used in loads of projects instead! The black bead trim was found in the barn at Chartreuse and while I have no idea how I'll be using it, it was pretty and had to come home with me. Yes, it did.

Confessing also that I am easy prey for cute packaging, hence the Mocha Rose lip balm found its way into my grubby paws. It's made by the Rosebud Perfume Company which is literally 2 miles up the road from my house. They make Rosebud Salve which is one of Sephora's biggest sellers. Run over to Sephora and support my local peeps! (BTW, the Mocha Rose balm is so very good)

Not from Chartreuse, but a continuation of the tweaking of the studio:

Ignore the paint, glitter and copious clutter. Yes, this is pretty much how it ALWAYS is. I've had this inkling in the back of my head for a long time and have particularly seen it put to use on seamstress tables. When I was at the antique mall last month, I picked up these vintage yardsticks, almost got them, but changed my mind at the last minute. Not sure why.

Well, I found out. It was because they hadn't yet been marked down! I picked up 4 on sale; 2 of them from our local paper. A quick treatment with a handsaw, staple gun and hammer did the trick. Now my countertops are rimmed by an old yardstick edging that is not only useful, it's pretty cool looking if I do say so myself. (To me anyway. My Pottery Barn friends are probably agog with horror) I was checking out at the antique store and this lady starts asking me about my plans for them. When I told her, she picks them up and starts fondling MY yardsticks, getting that greedy, grabby, I'm gonna steal your Cabbage Patch look in her eye. I nearly whacked her with a stick to get them back. Go find your own sticks chickie (well, that's what I was thinking!)

Basketball with....?

2009-03-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay, so we're sitting hundreds of feet away, so all you get is vague fuzz, but can you guess who we watched a Wizards-Bulls basketball game with last Friday?

Recognize the famous profile of one of Washington DC's newest residents?

We were told there might be a special guest when we got to the Verizon Center and had seen a street blocked of all traffic once we were off the metro, but we didn't register what 'special' meant until the crowd on the floor started to go wild.

And here comes President Obama!

I don't care who you voted for, that was a bit of a thrill. My daughter freaked out with excitement and she could barely watch the rest of the game for watching to see what the President might be doing. Our little photo is equally fuzzy, but yes, we will have the memories of a great girl's night out on the town.

For the record, the Wizards won. Woot!

Blast dreary wet weather

2009-02-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take a few photos of my shopping haul from last weekend with Rosemary. We thought it was time to do our small part to stimulate the economy. With the relatively good deals we got, it was a very small part indeed, but we did come away with lovelies. Hope to play show and tell with those later.

Only recently was I able to reconnect with Rosemary. She had been a favorite customer (among many wonderful customers, we were so lucky) when I worked in my local scrapbook store, but unbeknownst to both of us at the time, we are both mad for vintage. Think of all the time we wasted talking paper and embellishments only when we could've thrown in some really fun talk about incorporating vintage elements into our work! Not to mention ooohing and aaaahing over cute stuff in cold outbuildings.

did manage to grab some semi-decent light for these photos...

My first scrapbook page in ages and it is from well over a year ago. Scandal, scandal! No, really I'm not worried about it too much. Where's the fun if I feel as though I'm in a time crunch? And truly, I've not felt the call of the scrap for a while. I've been more into art projects, journaling and cardmaking. I felt like I got the two patterned papers mixed up, but then my daughter came home and loved the page. Couldn't very well change it then, could I? Super simple, super fast, super colorful; just like she is.
This little journal was a lot of fun and pretty much out of my box entirely. It's from a project by Elsie Flannigan and Rachel Denbow. Of course, I changed it (as we were encouraged to do) up by using some of that diecut felt that I have no fewer than 10 rolls laying about here and there. I also (gasp!) used an entire package of flower brads. Don't pass out. They were Target $1 spot brads. Never fear, my coolio Basic Grey and Heidi Swapp brads are still closely guarded. For the moment.
This card was fun and I'm probably keeping it in the family. I'll give it to hubby so I can steal it back at a later date and hang it up on my inspiration board. Sneaky, I am. Those are the some of the upcycled buttons forming my makeshift flowers. I took a few Heidi Swapp journaling spots and punched them, then offset and popped them up. The stems are one line from a package of old Basic Grey rubons. This whole card is scrappy leftovers of really old stuff and I love it so much, I'm planning to make sure it sticks around to get even older. As in older than dirt (which is what my kids tell me I am these days).
February is coming to a close and the Valentine goodies are long packed away, but the pink never entirely disappears here. Just a couple of pale pink goodness photos here at home that makes me happy!
Lurve tea cups with these little phrases on them. They make you feel as though relationships were a treasure to people in another era.

Of this I am sure

2009-02-27T06:54:00.000-08:00

1. Cadbury Caramel eggs are straight from the Devil.

2. Cadbury mini eggs are as well.

3. In point of fact, I believe all holiday candy is straight from the Devil.

In need of a candy exorcism,
Casii

Upcycling: The Pin-Ups

2009-02-17T09:05:00.000-08:00

I lurve Jenni Bowlin something fierce. Her simple, graphic, vintage style adapts well to so many artsy occasions. She's just introduced these cute as a bug chipboard buttons at winter CHA that have storybook graphics or text on them. Very, very cool.

I have these clear buttons that I bought way back when I was working part time in my local scrapbook store (where I fully spent each and every paycheck on whatever came in each week). I think Junkitz or 7Gypsies made them. We all just had to have them, in vast quantities.

Only, duh, I have barely touched them.

I have all this old sheet music, atlases and pages from old books.

And I hoard it all, barely touching it.

So, seeing Jenni's new chipboard buttons, I got to thinking. And what I got to thinking was nothing new or particularly original, but it was a way for me to upcycle supplies I already have on hand and actually PUT THEM TO USE dagnabbit!

And here are my upcycled buttons recreated as push-pins...All ready to hang artsy creations on an inspiration board or in my case, the wall of my studio where I am free to poke holes into the drywall willy nilly. Or I could bundle up some on cardboard squares as cool gifties.

Here you can see a few of my precision instruments, most notably, the toothpicks. I find this to be the easiest, least fussy way to apply the E6000 glue to bond the thumb tacks and buttons. What's missing is the adhesive I used to glue the paper onto the buttons. In my case, I used Club Scrap's bookbinding adhesive, but Mod Podge, K&Co craft glue or any favorite adhesive should work just fine. What is also missing is the sandpaper I used to sand excess paper off after I roughly cut around the papered buttons. For added embellishment, more buttons can be glue on in layers. This is also a great way to winnow down a stash of a bazillion buttons. (like the little cards of push pins in this post: Little packages )I also have a nice little supply of ready made buttons that will be great embellishments for future projects. They'll wait in this pink dish beside my bowl of glittered chipboard. (Now have I racked up enough recycling points to go ahead and buy all that Jenni Bowlin stuff I'm dying to have?)

Yes, I'm a spoiled brat. And I love it!

2009-02-13T10:47:00.001-08:00

We did our Valentine celebrating early this year. Last weekend, I got a little card left on my mirror inviting me to join my hubby for this: It was like watching a cross between the Muppets and an acid trip (not that I'd know what that's like. my biggest flashy drug moments have been with migraine meds) with, um, full puppet nudity. While I wanted to cover the ears of the little girl sitting two rows ahead of us, I loved it! And it was even better for going with some good friends of ours. All the way home, we were singing what we could remember of the songs which pretty much breaks down into~It sucks to be me, it sucks to be you, we're all a little bit racist (told you it was wild).

And I'm still blown away by the generosity of my swap partner from a Year of Color. Lisa blew me away with her generosity. She totally pegged me and my style with the goodies she put in my package. And the collage she created is stunning.

I've already put the little sewing case to good use. I'm in love with it's creamy white and aqua lines. Perfection! And I'm afraid to use the vintage seam binding. It's so lovely to look at in the crinkly old packaging. (but I will use it, seam binding is probably in my top 5 of art supplies) I saved my own hubby's Valentine card for last. His office is right next to my little studio and while he usually keeps his door shut, he travels through my area quite a bit. I have to be somewhat sneaky to make anything for him. Usually the best plan of action is to work in stages, so as to create befuddlement and confusion. Oh, heck, who am I kidding? He probably only gives a casual glance to whatever I'm doing unless I specifically call it to his attention. Still, I like to imagine myself creating something lovely under the cover of secret operatives....

To handily throw him off the trail, I reached into my darkest drawer to pull out the base of my creation, a brown paper bag. Then I subjected it to the rigors of the sewing machine, some handcut felt, old sheet music and whatnot (that's an official supply from now on) to make his card. And to adhere to my 'use it up' philosophy for the season, all of the whatnot is current stash, but if McGuyver can fashion a laser beam to burn through a door with a ball point pen and some used Doublemint gum (um, ewwwwww!), I can make a card dagnabbit. And I added some of that vintage seam binding as a closure later. So what if I need a few more supplies than McGuyver?

Hair Apparent

2009-02-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

Kim at Scraps of Life won the No Frizz goodie and loads of other samples I'm tossing in this little box, so Kim, send me your snail mail addy and I'll get this in the post to you ASAP!

I had hoped to post that on Saturday night, but a sinus infection meant looking at a computer screen for more than 15 seconds added hours to my misery. Almost a month ago, I caught what I thought was a vicious cold, got a lot better and it came back with a vengeance late last week. It felt like my head was trying to leave the host body. If funky colored body fluids amounted to weight loss, I would've been shopping in the tween stores at the mall last week. That's how horrid it was! Turns out it was an infection that was probably exacerbated by our weather which can't decide to be deep, dark winter or balmy springtime. Perhaps my head will at last decide the host body isn't all that freaky and stay put for a while now.

While I was in the midst of working and being sick and school lockdowns, I got the sweetest package from my Year Of Color swap partner. I've got to take a few photos for show and tell. She made a collage for me that is heartbreakingly lovely. I was truly spoiled! Can't wait to show it off.

That's the kind of excitement I can live without!

2009-02-06T11:58:00.001-08:00

(if you have hair and like free stuff {who doesn't like free stuff? If you don't like free stuff, I'm a bit worried about you dearie} leave a comment on the previous blog post for a Saturday drawing!)

I got a call from my son's school this morning. I see their number on caller i.d. (how did we live without caller i.d.?) and automatically think he's hurt or ill. But when I say hello, I get an automated voice message telling me that there is a campus emergency and all students are to remain in place until told otherwise.
I felt an icy spot of fear form in my chest. Through texting and more voice messages from school, it seems a bullet was shot into a third floor window of one of the dorms. The police were called in and after a few tense hours, they are no longer on lockdown.
I am so thankful for the system that his school has in place and that they kept us informed as well as possible through the lockdown. On the whole, I'm not an alarmist, but when it's my baby involved, I get all Mama bear-like. The school did the right thing here and I'll be sure to give them the positive feedback.

Now for the right, but quirky, kind of excitement....

I'll admit it, I'm a dork. I've been a bit of a tree hugger before being intimate with trees was even on the radar. I remember freaking out as a little girl when we carried our trash way out into the back yard and burned it in a barrel. Of course, with the exception of renting in town while we built a home and a few months in third grade, we always lived in the boonies. There was no such thing as a trash truck. If you didn't burn it, you had to collect it and haul it to the landfill yourself.
As an adult, when we bought our first home it came with a recycling bin and I've been faithful to fill that sucker to the brim each week for the past several years, even to the point where I've gotten nasty grams from the recycling truck for having too much cardboard in my bin. (those prompted nasty grams back. did they want me to trash the cardboard instead?)
Our county is in the midst of a debate because our landfill is almost at capacity. Some people want to dig a new area. Some want to build an incinerator (a lot of NIMBY on that one). In the meantime, some of our trash is getting trucked to other counties and states. The argument is far from over.
One little light of hope is that the county is expanding our recycling program to a single-stream bin which is freaking HUGE compared to our previous one and I don't have to meticulously break everything down and separate it to within an inch of its life. My daughter got a bit of that fish-eyed freaky look when she saw my excitement over that big blue baby. You would've thought someone had just delivered a new (vintage) 1967 cherry red convertible Mustang to my front door. But no, it's my pretty new blue bin and I love her. I hope to see all of her friends gathered at the curb on collection day from now on.
That's the kind of excitement I can live with!

Hair, Hair, Hair, long beautiful hair...

2009-01-31T09:28:00.000-08:00

Now look what I've gone and done. I'll bet your singing the title song from the classic musical "Hair', aren't you?

No?

Well, I am!

And as much as I fear this might make me look like an blog attention hog, it's really not my intention. But I do have yet another giveaway to share. This one is NOT for artsy blog candy though. No, if you have hair, you should be interested in this one. If you don't have hair, but know someone who does, you should be interested in this one.

I just received a small order from Sephora and I was sent a full-size tube of a new product to try that's not in the store yet. It's from a company called Living Proof. It's called No Frizz and unlike most other products aimed at taming the frizzies, this one has no silicone, so hopefully hair won't have that coated, weighed down feeling. The best part is that they sent two tubes instead of one with the suggestion that I share it with a friend! And I love to have more friends to talk skincare, beauty product gossip with!

I had chosen the thick to coarse hair option, so if that's you, this will fit you to a tee. If it's not you, we all know someone who has decried the frizztastic state of their coarse, wavy mane as they try product after product in an effort to tame it, so either leave a comment on their behalf or steer them this way. I'll draw a name next Saturday, February 7th!

This isn't a sample, but a FULL-SIZED tube of the line that will be launched nationwide in the spring and I'll throw a passel of other samples in this box just for the fun of it. (doesn't the word "Passel" make you smile?)

Another package going out on Monday is to my Year of Color swap partner and I hope she enjoys it as much as I've enjoyed putting it together for her. Even better than brown paper packages are pink paper packages, right? Lisa, the pink of this box really isn't as bright as the photo, so don't faint thinking your getting a neon pink horror. :) This little bit of floof will be going out to another friend soon as a part of a petite Valentine package....(pssst, she has no idea! Yet....)

Little packages

2009-01-27T10:44:00.000-08:00

Finally, at the end of January, Mother Nature has decided to bless us with snow. Not a lot, but a little. At this point, my girls will take the school day even for an embarrassing few inches. This is my first experience driving in it with Lucy Bug. She hates taking off in 1st on a hill with the snow. We had a little fish tail excitement this morning which is more than enough to last me the rest of winter. From now on, unless someone in my family is bleeding from a headwound that won't be fixed up with a butterfly bandage, we're staying home for snow days too! (or stealing the Jeep back from my daughter)

I've been having some stolen moments creating what I hope will be a few small joys for my swap partner from the Year of Color blog. A few peeks for her that surely won't give too much away...

And yet a few more moments having fun putting little packages together for a few ladies going to the Inspired Artist Workshop. I hope these little send-offs can put a smile on their face!

And the Oscar goes to...

2009-01-25T19:19:00.000-08:00

Sherri S of ~Design to Shine~!

I so appreciate everyone who shared their love/hate relationship with Valentine's Day. One of my most fun memories? When I was in 2nd year French class and one of the only 2 boys in our class sent the rest of the girls roses. He was so gallant and nerdy and probably has made some woman extraordinarily happy with his thoughtfulness.

Confessions of a Reforming Shopaholic?

2009-01-24T07:55:00.000-08:00

If you like free swag, before you read this, go to the post below and leave a comment for my itty bitty giveaway. It's not massive, but happy mail is always good mail, right? Is there a woman out there who hasn't read Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella yet? And the rest of the novels (so far)? And who is going to see the movie that comes out in a few weeks?

I must confess that I have read every last novel, drooling over the shopping escapades of one Becky Bloomwood and cringing as I wondered how she was going to dig herself out of debt. She always manages to rise to the occasion, but not before I almost get heartburn in angst over it. And it's a fiction series!!!

Even though I'm a thrifty, flea market girl at heart, I have my full retail habits. Under my favorite websites I have saved, there is an entire section for make up and skincare. Hubbie worries when he hears the associates at Sephora call me by name. I'm trying to save my pennies until mid-February for when MAC Cosmetics releases their Hello Kitty line because I want it almost as much for the cute packaging as the make up. I'll skimp on butter to save a buck, but my skin is priceless. I wasn't born blessed with dewy, poreless skin. I'm not going to add insult to skin injury by bargaining with it.

And CHA starts tomorrow. I've said it before, I have NO business even considering purchasing any art supplies that aren't staples, but I'm feeling that frisson of excitement with each email containing a spoiler alert for new product. My inner Becky Bloomwood is making a list and planning to purchase as soon as it hits the stores.

But, I'm trying to be more conscious of my spending habits.

I'm really curious to know if anyone else looks to the era of the 40's when people were planting Victory Gardens, using ration books and repurposing everything with a bit of admirable envy?

Does anyone else worry that our consumer driven society has crippled us as we live through this time of recession? Do we still have that can-do spirit?

I'd like to hope that we can and will rise to the occasion.

Now, why do I have no business buying any art supplies? I have a room that is bursting at the seams with lovely things that rarely see the light of the work table. I've been making an effort to use it up. Tossing an empty package into the wastebasket is a most satisfying feeling. And really, when the creative session is over, I don't feel the least bit deprived for not working with the latest releases, but I do feel the satisfaction of creating AND utilizing my older, but still gorgeous stash. Now that puts a big Cheshire Cat grin on my face (you know, the face with pores big enough to drive a Hummer into?).

This is one of 6 Valentine's cards from old supplies....

All old stash: old cardstock, patterned paper, rub-ons, ooooooooooooooooold...The rub-ons for the sentiments are 5 years old! And they still went on like buttah...

Punched those tiny hearts out with the very first incarnation of the Quickutz. Yes, I still have an original handle. Still works!

Paying it forward, awards & a giveaway!

2009-01-20T11:48:00.001-08:00

Since Valentine's Day is around the corner and it seems like my little corner of the world is awash in pinks, I think I had pink on the brain when I ordered 2 sets of these Basic Grey chipboard stickers! So, I'm giving the extra set away along with 2 stamps from Glitz Designs. Just leave a comment telling me what you love (or hate) about Valentine's Day and I'll draw a winner on Sunday the 25th. And I have been honored with 2 sweet awards,
Priscila of Casa Bella Chic gave me a Kreativ Blogger award, but you should see her work. She is astounding and full of vintage, altered charm!

As I am surrounded by talented and creative friends, they are all 'Kreative Bloggers', but don't we all like to get a pat on the back to reassure us that we aren't hunched over our work tables because we're stark raving mad? (myself excluded, I AM Cruisazy!)

So here are five people who are not only creative, but live all aspects of their live through an art-filtered lens:
Danielle, Kelly, Tina, Heidi and Becky
Please, when you get the chance, tell them hello and let them know I sent you their way!

I also got this sweet award from Back Through Time: This is what this award entails:
These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon's of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers. When you pass the award along please include these guidelines. I'm supposed to give the love away to 8 friends!
I don't think I know a single blogger who's left a comment that seeks anything more than to be friendly, but only 8? That's hard! I'll give it a try: Valita, Amy, Dianna, Rosemary, TJ, Jennifer, For the love of vintage..., Trying to Stay Calm!

This past weekend, Chartreuse and Co. we having their monthly tag sale, so Kim and I met in town to drive out there together. First, we should've dressed in long underwear because it was cooooooooooooooooolder than, well, it was cold. I'm just now regaining feeling in my toes. Nothing is heated in their barns or carriage house with the exception of a few space heaters in one barn, but the shopping is worth it! The barn is FULL to the rafters with treasure if you're willing to dig for it, but we were good. I just got 3 old theater poster prints and a vintage choker from here.
From there we went to a couple of local antique malls and came away with a few treasures. Whenever I shop with another artsy person, my shopping is always artsy focused so most everything is something that will be repurposed at some point in time. My favorite finds were the old receipt book and the organizer that looks like an old book. Just cool stuff on the cheap (my favorite kind of stuff!).
For lunch, we hit Frisco's almost exclusively for their Exploded Potatoes. Habit forming potatoes. They are like a loaded potato on crack. Made the mistake of ordering a pizza and not eating very much of it because I was focused solely upon the potatoes when the owner comes by concerned that something was wrong with the food. Couldn't be further from the truth! The pizza was brought home and enjoyed for dinner, but he's got to know that he could sway votes with those potatoes. Yummmm, getting hungry just thinking about them. If you ever want to meet for lunch south of Frederick one day, call me. I'll take you to the source hidden away in an industrial park. It'll be our dirty little secret.

The one where she turns 13

2009-01-14T06:46:00.000-08:00

This little one who still asks to be tucked in from time to time is turning thirteen tomorrow. Yikes, my last teenager! She has no idea what she's getting from us for her birthday and the arrival of envelopes and packages from relatives is turning her into a Nervous Nellie. I imagine by tomorrow morning, we won't be able hold off the present melee for long. The will of the Birthday Queen must prevail. Happy Birthday Baby! I'm so glad God loaned one of his angels to me!

Neither of my daughters are girly girls. You won't find pink in the list of their top three colors. This has led to frustration on both our parts. As soon as they could object, I could no longer dress them up in pastel florals and they had to grow up in a home that is largely swathed in a soft wash palette. We have rubbed off on each other though and I've come to enjoy brighter colors at home and in my art while they have been caught on the rare occasion wearing pink; sometimes even donning jewelry!

Still, when I'm in my little studio, I am drawn to my comfort level colors of creams, pinks, blues and greens. This won't do for a bright color loving teen who is drawn to strong oranges, blues, greens and reds. Sometimes I have to remember when I'm creating something that if I'm making it for someone else, I should keep their style in mind rather than my own. Easier said than done. Did I fail because I still ended up using lace? Even if it's bright orange lace?
After working with that bright set of colors, I was still in a bright zone and needed to put together a new notebook for the year. I know I've said I hate lists, but I do like doodling sketches for card ideas, clip a lot of photos out of magazines and write all journaling (cause I never fail to mess it up on the real thing) or sentiments before I put them on a layout or card. This notebook is where all of that goes. Even though it was pretty flashy in terms of brightness, my favorite colors look good when they're more saturated. Something that certainly makes for a happier Inspiration Journal when we're staring down these dark, bitter cold days of winter. (seriously, who feels creative when it's this flipping FRIGID outside?)

My little notebooks from the other day weren't quite finished. Just a little pop, pop, pop of pink (oh yes, pretty in pink) and a soft exclamation of "Oh dear" and they feel just right now.

Upcycled Art

2009-01-12T11:17:00.000-08:00

Remember back when chipboard was riding the first big wave of popularity and if we bought one package, two was better? (oh, you only bought one package? Well, bless your heart! I, on the other hand, had no self-control) And then, if you are anything like me, the chipboard either 1)got put away in a drawer only to be used intermittently because, at any moment, companies might halt all production of chipboard thereby leaving the world in the midst of a devastating chipboard shortage or 2)you forgot about it completely until your chipboard storage drawer would no longer open and when you finally yanked it free, you were rewarded with an avalanche of warped cardboard. I'll plead guilty on both counts.

I'm not making any no-buy declarations. I know myself. But I am making a concerted effort to use what I have this year on a far greater level than I have previously. So, I was staring at two packages of Basic Grey undressed chipboard recently. Just had to have them. Very rarely used them. In fact, one package is still sealed. Knowing that all things in life are better with bling and that an art supply would practically soar when dripping with bling, I spent a few minutes glittering the entire contents of my open package of chipboard.

Suddenly what had been non-descript pieces of cardboard turned into sparkling, tarnished silver pieces of possibility. Even the most basic shape is elevated with just a little something special. (if you aren't into glitter, I'm sorry. We can't be friends. No, no, I'm kidding. We can still be friends! I still love you! mostly)

Then, I was folding some old linens that I had bought at an auction. Most of them have nasty rust stains, holes, tears and seemed destined for the rag pile. Many of them are edged with pretty lace though and I hate to see anything go to waste. But...even with holes and stains I still cringe a bit whenever I think of taking scissors to something old and vintage. I feel like my Nana will walk through the door and lecture me on wastefulness while making me eat cinnamon squash (another story).

Eh, I got over it.

With my newly glittered chipboard loveliness and scraps of old dresser scarf, I'm working on these little notebooks. They'll help me out with my resolutions to be better about simplifying and making lists this year; just right for tucking into my pocketbook.

New Year, time to rotate some dishes? I love the Fireking Charm cup & saucers, but rarely pull them out. The Year of Color blog is focusing on blue and white for the month, so I'm sipping coffee, tea and hot chocolate from these for a few weeks. Nana would be proud. I bought them at a little antique shop in OK when I went to visit her and Papa a couple of summers ago.

Ah, the mere 2 year plan!

2009-01-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

Another tiny project that I'm excited hubbie and I got done over the holidays was to finally install an Italian Tole light fixture in my little studio. I picked it up at an antique store a couple of years ago with the plan to put it in the studio, but hubby said the ceiling tiles wouldn't support it. After seeing it on many a honey-do list, he enlisted my help to get it hooked up (maybe the fact that the light kept showing up in conspicuous spots like his desktop, his file cabinet, his bureau top helped spur him on. I dunno... whistling innocently).

Whatdya know? The ceiling tiles support it just fine and I have a pretty, little light to brighten up my creative space.

Not that I've spent much time in the studio the past couple of days because someone infected me with the crud. My nose is staging a mutiny against me. I hope to putter around in there (my studio, not my nose) a wee bit today because I'm feeling sorry for myself and there is no one around to pour me a Godiva chocolate martini (or three).

The ladies at Joli Paquet are taking their collective talents a step further by not only offering their tips, tutorials and kits at Christmas time, but will soon be adding to their blog with more loveliness for any time of year. Just click on their button to the right on my blog or check them out here: Joli Paquet. I'm excited!

Ever heard of the 5 year plan?

2009-01-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

And I'm not talking about a car loan either.

Ever bought anything for your home and five years later, it's still not done? Our shed (old chicken house) is full of 'stuff' that seems to be on the five year plan. The following is one such project that turned into a five year plan, maybe a six year plan. We're not sure of the exact time we got started with this one.

Long before the back porch was renovated, long before the basement was renovated, long before the endless powder room disaster, er, renovation, the hubbie and I were at an auction in Buckeystown held by Mike, the flamboyant auctioneer. Most everything was junk. Even the $2 box lots weren't moving, but the people watching is always a cheap date.

In between cheap veneer computer desks and a hospital bed, there was this sad, old iron baby crib. It had several layers of paint chipping off of it. The latest was what we dubbed "l'il Devil Red". Must've scared that baby witless to wake up with blood red bars holding him back from the world. The crib was a no sale and I pushed hubbie whispering "Offer a $1." I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it and little did I know it would be at least five years before my plan would come to fruition!

Just as soon as the porch was renovated (which I was sure was going to start happening at any moment, ha), the crib, once rehabbed, would make a cute little sofa/settee for a cozy reading spot.

L'il Devil Red crib went in the shed to wait it out. At least a year goes by...

Porch still not done...

Nope, not yet...

Ah, porch work has begun!

Now it's time to dig out the L'il Devil.

Countless home improvement shows lie to us telling us we can just take an old piece of metal furniture to an autobody shop where they'll sandblast it and paint it on the cheap. Not only will no place in my county do it, but I was also advised that I wouldn't want paint meant for a vehicle in my home if I had any furniture finished with it since it would be highly toxic to breath the fumes.

After asking some friends where they had their old tulip lawn chairs stripped, they suggested we call a headstone company. Yes, a headstone company. After all, the images, names and dates are all sandblasted into the stone and they could sandblast the paint off the crib, couldn't they? Hubbie dropped L'il Devil off and got a promise that they'd get to it over the weekend.

And another year (at least) goes by...

Headstone companies are, sadly, busy places. We were sure L'il Devil had gone off to die. Practically gave up on it.

Somewhere in there, in a fit of optimism, I had bought a baby mattress (which also went into the shed) and a vintage handsewn barkcloth daybed cover(I could've just passed out cold when I found this) at Lucketts.

Finally, hubbie tries one last time to spring L'il Devil from exile and they promise us one final time that it will be done the very next week. Well, lo and behold, they made good on that promise with profuse apologies and wouldn't accept payment for it because of the crazy time frame.

L'il Devil cleaned up nice. Over the holiday, hubbie painted it and we brought it inside where it will no longer be known for its scary red hue, but as a place to relax. Of course, Sozo kitty found it in about 30 seconds once we had the daybed cover on it. If you're ever in the neighborhood, come on over and sit a spell.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T17:43:00.000-08:00

In the past few days, events have caused me to feel even more deeply that material possessions and status mean little while relationships mean a great deal.

I want to make the most of the new, freshly minted year! What are YOUR plans to make 2009 a year well lived? I'm still working on a short list.

So far...

1) Not let my studio get the the point where it was most of December. Embarrassingly, on a lark I posted photos on an online forum (Messy Studio) and got far more comments than on the photos of when my studio was pristine (well, pristine for me~Clean Studio).

But, December was a deliciously creative month due to the commitment to do a little each day, so I need to working on...

2)Seeking balance. In everything. How do I accomplish that? I really dislike lists, but they work. Need to find ways to make lists more palatable...

3)While eating less. Eat less. The past few months of holidays have been a whirlwind of yummy food and how do I bring in the New Year? By making sticky buns. My jeans are tighter and my body is tired because it needs to...

4)Move more. Without fail, while each holiday season is a cause for celebration, it also gives me the convenient excuse that I have no time for exercise. I'm so happy that last year I ran a 5K. Huge for me. HUGE! I completed another very tough 90 day program. But, cold weather brought a near halt to the running and then our television broke, so I couldn't just pop in a dvd then fall came around with the first of the holidays and along with the activities, I became a temporary couch potato, so this year...

5)No more excuses. In exercise, in eating less (and eating well), in seeking balance and in keeping not only the studio, but my home a haven against chaos.

This past weekend, I did some shuffling around in the studio. Moved a small table in, organized the Christmas chaos, rearranged and hubby finally put a light in that has been waiting on the sidelines for almost two years! Love this light!

We also finished a little project for the back porch that was, at the least, 5 years in the making. Oh, the best of intentions, but in the end, hubby and I did get it done! Photos soon...

Ohh, big P.S.~ArtsyMama has started a year long blog subscription that will feature many talented artists. Each week will have a different focus, but each month will center on a certain color. Sound like fun? It's only $12 for the entire year. That's less than 3 trips to Starbucks for a year of art-filled living!

I'll be back tomorrow!

2008-12-28T13:28:00.001-08:00

And hope to catch up my pretty, vintage blogging friends. Hope all had a lovely Christmas! Until then,I'll leave this to keep you warm!

The Joy of the Unexpected

2008-12-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, it was wrong to tease and to hint about this most amazing of gifts I received. And then not to post for several days! But then, the Christmas activity kicked into 5th gear. My son came home from college and the girls are officially on their winter holiday.

To explain this gift, we have to suspend all adult disbelief and selfishness and open our hearts up to the unexpected. I've come to know this family through working with youth, through their daughters and through our church. I've told Carol that I'd be happy to travel with her anywhere after she was the GREATEST of help and most fun of companions on a recent all girl trip (a recipe for possible drama and mayhem. Nowhere in sight on this trip!) and Kevin is a brother to me most assuredly (and he has a heart for working with hurting kids. and he cooks. Good cooking!). Their daughters are always good for the best hugs. Something this mom needs at times after a difficult day with my own teen and tween.

Last Thursday evening, our youth group was having their Christmas party when Kevin hands me a box and tells me to open it right then. He wants to see my reaction. I'm sure it's something silly since we all share a lot of goofy laughs, so I'm game and open it.

Oh. My. Gosh. I'm almost blinded by the sparkle! The box is full of vintage costume jewelry! Rhinestones, pendants, earrings, pins, a cameo, bracelets, necklaces; the box is full of a vintage, artsy lovers dream.

Understand that I could wax eloquent and never fully explain what a perfectly perfect and unexpected gift this was. They know my heart and my heart nearly burst with joy. I don't know whether to wear it all or play with it all! How to properly thank them and Momma Anderson, the original owner of the jewelry, I'll never know.
People can surprise us and they take joy in doing so. I had been so very caught up in the 'doing' of Christmas that I didn't expect to be given to in a such a wonderful way. I can now remember what it feels like to be a child on Christmas morning and find that Santa brought me something that, even in my endless circling of the Sears Wish Book, could not have expected and could not have been more perfect for me. The best gift of all though, is this family, not their jewelry; that they are a part of my family's life.

Merry Christmas to all!